Churchill Downs Closing Day Update: Luis Saez Clinches Third Churchill Downs Jockey Title

Dec 01, 2024

Luis Saez continued his dominance in Kentucky racing as he’s secured the leading rider title at 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.

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

Represented by Kirian McLaughlin, Saez’s notable victories at the 26-day stand were aboard First Resort in the $381,250 Kentucky Jockey Club (Grade II) and Good Cheer in the $400,000 Golden Rod (GII).

Saez, 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, where 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. (14), Florent Geroux (13) and a three-way tie between Erik Asmussen, Rafael Bejarano and Jaime Torres (10 each).

Saez 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 on 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 has horses entered in Races 1, 4, 5, 7, and 9, while Cox’s entries are in Races 5, 8, and 10.

Following Sunday’s program, live racing in Kentucky shifts to Turfway Park, which opens its season Wednesday with a 5:55 p.m. ET first post. Racing at Churchill Downs will resume for Kentucky Derby Week beginning Saturday, April 26.

 

POOL FOR MANDATORY PAYOUT OF SUNDAY’S DERBY CITY 6 SHOULD REACH $1 MILLION – Bettors have a lucrative $240,017 carryover in the Derby City 6 to chase Sunday at Churchill Downs for the 12-race closing day program.

There is a mandatory payout in Sunday’s 20-cent Derby City 6, which covers Races 7-12 starting at approximately 3:49 p.m. (all times Eastern) because it’s closing day of the 26-day Fall Meet.

All monies will be distributed Sunday to ticket holders with the most winners in the six-race series. Track officials estimate the force-out of Sunday’s total Derby City 6 pool to reach $1 million with new money.

Takeout on the Derby City 6 is just 15% – one of the lowest multi-race wager takeout rates in American racing – and only costs 20 cents per combination.

Sunday’s closing day sequence features 63 entered horses for an average of 10.5 entries per race:

Past performances are available at www.Brisnet.com. Fans can wager on the Derby City 6 on track at Churchill Downs; www.TwinSpires.com, the track’s official online wagering platform; other online wagering outlets; and select satellite betting centers throughout North America.

The first of 12 races at Churchill Downs on closing day is 1 p.m. There also is a $6,300 carryover in the first Super Hi-5 of the day, which is scheduled for the opener.