Not only does Liz Morris have one jockey riding in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby but now she has two. Both of her jockeys will be riding in the Run for the Roses after Mr. Big News entered the field and will be ridden by Gabe Saez.
Her other jockey, Adam Beschizza of England will be riding Enforceable for trainer Mark Casse. Enforceable was fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes before Beschizza took over the ride. Mr. Big News was sixth in the Blue Grass on July 11.
Morris is only the second female jockey agent ever to have a jockey ride in the Derby. She was excited enough about Beschizza getting a ride but is ecstatic now that both her jockeys will have a chance to win at Churchill Downs Saturday.
“Gabe is super excited, too,” she said.
She said Mr. Big News, sired by Giant’s Causeway, has a strong pedigree.
And get this — Saez, who will be riding in his fourth Derby, has dreamed he could win the Derby with Mr. Big News for owner Chester Thomas and Allied Racing Stable.
“Chester had his first Derby horse last year and to see him have a horse two years in a row is really exciting,” Morris said. “He’s a Kentucky guy born and raised. He’s a good guy that everybody really likes.”
Morris and other agents are not allowed at Tuesday morning’s Derby draw but both her jockeys will be there. She originally did not plan to attend the Derby but confirmed a ticket for herself Monday after Saez also got a ride.
“I still don’t know if I will watch at home or go,” she said. “I am still trying to figure that out.”
She says Enforceable has trained great and that if it rains leading up to the Derby it could help both of her riders.
“Gabe’s mount really responds well to an off track,” she said. “That could be to our advantage.”
Morris, a former jockey, admits she always had a vision of one jockey riding in the Kentucky Derby when she became a jockey agent.
“But to have two is surreal,” she said. “In my wildest dreams I never thought that might happen. I am a big believe in what your put out there is what you will receive. But this is really a blessing.”
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WLEX-TV anchor Nancy Cox will feature Morris in a Derby Day story as part of the station’s coverage leading up to the race.
