LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Not enough is being said about Luis Saez.
Three weeks ago, the 32-year-old jockey from Panama left Keeneland in an ambulance after a terrifying spill on Blue Grass Stakes Day. His horse, reacting to another in mid-stretch, veered sharply. Saez went over his mount's shoulder and landed beneath the colt's legs. He walked away bruised but unbroken.
On Friday at Churchill Downs, he walked into the winner's circle.
Saez guided heavy favorite Good Cheer to a confident and commanding win in the 151st Kentucky Oaks, circling the leaders at the top of the stretch and pulling clear to win by 2½ lengths. It was his second Oaks victory in four years.
And he might not be done. With a scratch on Thursday, Saez picked up a mount in Saturday's Kentucky Derby aboard Saffie Joseph's long shot Neoequos — a surprise opportunity that could lead to an Oaks-Derby double, pulled off just last year by Brian Hernandez Jr.
But before thinking about Saturday, Saez handled Friday with authority.
He captured the first half of that double with a confident ride aboard Good Cheer, sitting patiently behind the leaders until making his move, swinging outside the front-running group, passing them, and then drawing clear.
"We know she is a very special filly," Saez said. "She's undefeated. ... I rode her pretty confident because we know she's sure and she's going to make a big move. ...We did go around everybody. But when you ride these kind of horses, it's not a matter of what move you make. Because she's doing a fantastic job. I knew I had a lot of horse."
Good Cheer, under Luis Saez, takes command in midstretch of the 2025 Kentucky Oaks.
The win was Good Cheer's first at the Grade 1 level. She's now unbeaten in seven starts, the last six under Saez. It was her fourth win at Churchill Downs, and second over an off track there. The first, she won by 17 lengths.
"Luis did a good job of putting her in a good position going into the first turn," Good Cheer's trainer, Brad Cox, said. "He saved a little bit of ground, and then just kind of kept her out of trouble going into the far turn. The only thing I told Luis is 1 1/8 (miles) is her friend, and it's a long way around there. So just get a good position but be patient. He did a great job. He's rode her in all but one start, and he's done a fantastic job. He's perfect on her, and she's perfect."
You can't get much better than that. Saez has been among the most consistent jockeys in sport, finishing in the top five in earnings in each of the past six years. He's at No. 4 this year after Friday's races.
But around Churchill Downs, he may be best remembered for a low point — the disqualification of Maximum Security in the 2019 Kentucky Derby. His horse finished first but was taken down for interference, and Saez was suspended for failure to control his mount. It remains a hotly debated rulings
What has Saez done since? He's kept winning.
He won his first Breeders' Cup race with Essential Quality in 2020. A year later, he and Essential Quality captured the Belmont Stakes. He won the Oaks for D. Wayne Lukas on Secret Oath in 2022. Last year, he won the Belmont again aboard Dornoch. H
Now, he's writing a new chapter — and Friday's win was among his most emotional. When asked by NBC's Donna Brothers what the moment meant, Saez didn't hold back gratitude for Cox and Godolphin Racing for backing him.
"Thank the Lord I'm a part of her," Saez said. "She's very special. Brad has done a magnificent job with her. And the owners and everybody and the whole crew on the backside. When I was in jockey school, I had a dream to come ride in the United States. And to ride for these guys, it's something special for me, and today we're having these moments. So, I just feel so grateful."
Good Cheer roared around the far turn in Friday's Longines Kentucky Oaks to win her seventh start in as many races on a sloppy track at Churchill Downs.
Kentucky Oaks Day Coverage:
Undefeated Good Cheer roars down sloppy track to win 151st Kentucky Oaks
BOZICH | Good Cheer's powerful Oaks win makes you wonder if she could beat Derby colts
Point of View | The importance of pink at Kentucky Oaks
Kentucky Derby 151 guide to everything you need to know for Oaks and Derby Days
Copyright 2025 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
