SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — At last year’s Saratoga Race Course meeting, then-apprentice jockey Jaime Torres was honored when he realized he was named to ride a second-time starter named Seize the Grey in a July maiden for legendary Hall of Fame trainer D.
Wayne Lukas. Torres piloted the son of Arrogate to an upset victory in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint and was elated to have won a race for a trainer of Lukas’ stature. The then 24-year-old could not have imagined that 10 months later, he would guide the same colt to a pacesetting triumph in Saturday’s Grade 1 Preakness at Pimlico Race Course.
“It means a lot. From the beginning, Wayne has been giving me a lot of opportunities, and I appreciate that,” said Torres, who is represented by agent Liz Morris. “It’s not just me – Keith Asmussen and other apprentices, too.
Wayne means a lot and is very important to us. We just need someone to give us the opportunity, and he did.” Torres guided Seize the Grey to a win in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile on May 4 at Churchill Downs, marking both the rider and the horse’s first graded victory.
Lukas was approached by several agents about replacing Torres with a more experienced rider for the Preakness, but Lukas held steady in his belief in Torres and named him once again for the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. “I’m so happy,” said Torres. “I never thought this would happen.
As soon as this race was coming closer, I was confident with him. Every race, he was getting bet.
