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Saez 'heartbroken' over loss of Eight Belles Jockey Gabriel Saez, who guided the ill-fated Eight Belles during her gallant runner-up effort in Saturday's Kentucky Derby (G1), issued a statement on Monday from his home base of Delaware Park. "I remain heartbroken over Eight Belles, and I want to let her many fans know that she never gave me the slightest indication before or during the race that there was anything bothering her," Saez, 20, said. "All I could sense under me was how eager she was to race. I was so proud of her performance, and of the opportunity to ride her in my first Kentucky Derby, all of which adds to my sadness. "Riding right now at Delaware Park and being around the horses and other jockeys is good therapy for me, but I hope the media understands that I prefer not to conduct interviews at this time. Please respect my decision while I mourn my personal loss." Eight Belles finished a clear second to Big Brown (Boundary) in the Run for the Roses, but collapsed suddenly on the gallop-out. The Larry Jones filly was found to have shattered both of her front ankles, and she had to be euthanized. Jones indicated that an autopsy was to be performed. Saez had ridden Eight Belles four times prior to the Derby. He was in the saddle for two of her most dominating victories, a 10-length romp in a Delaware maiden special weight event in October and a 15-length allowance triumph at Fair Grounds in January. Just one day before their Derby tragedy, Jones and Saez had teamed up successfully with Proud Spell (Proud Citizen) in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Saez, the leading apprentice jockey in his native Panama in 2005, came to the United States the following year. He quickly established himself at Delaware Park, where Jones is also headquartered.
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