Photo:

Candice Chavez / Eclipse Sportswire

Luis Sáez continued his dominance in Kentucky racing as
he secured the leading-rider title at the Churchill Downs fall meet.

Entering Sunday’s closing-day program, he had a commanding
41 victories from 160 mounts with more than $3.6 million in purse earnings to
cinch his third Churchill Downs riding title.

Click here for Churchill Downs entries and results.

At the start of Sunday’s closing day program, Sáez
maintained an insurmountable 21-win lead over last year’s champion Tyler Gaffalione,
who missed several days of the meet recovering from a spill.

Represented by agent Kiaran McLaughlin, Sáez had
notable victories at the 26-day stand aboard First Resort in the
Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club and Good Cheer in the Golden Rod (G2).

Sáez, 32, relocated his tack to Kentucky in 2022 and
immediately found success, winning that year’s fall meet with 23 victories over
a 19-day schedule. His momentum continued into the 2023 spring meet, in which
he led all riders with 33 wins across 23 days.

As of Sunday jockey Luan Machado was third in the
standings with 16 wins followed by Brian Hernandez Jr. with 14, Florent
Géroux 13 and a three-way tie between Erik Asmussen, Rafael
Bejarano and Jaime Torres with 10 each.

Sáez also played a key role in Godolphin clinching
the leading-owner title at the fall meet. His wins aboard First Resort and Good
Cheer helped the ownership powerhouse tally seven victories, three more than
runner-up Calumet Farm. Heading into their final two entries Sunday,
Godolphin has amassed more than $1.2 million in earnings.

The leading-trainer title will be decided Sunday with Steve
Asmussen holding a slim 17-16 lead over Brad Cox. Asmussen had horses
entered in races 1, 4, 5, 7 and 9, and Cox’s entries were in races 5, 8 and 10.