Flightline’s exercise rider on the journey from Clockers’ Corner to Keeneland
Juan Leyva is an integral member of trainer John Sadler's team preparing the newest superstar for his date with destiny in the Classic. Flightline has been exercising every Saturday morning at Santa Anita since his victory in Pacific Classic and is now the exercise rider on the journey from Clockers’ Corner to Keeneland.
Flightline has won all five career starts by a combined margin of 62¾ lengths. He has yet to be stretched in any race. Flavien Prat will be back aboard Flightline on raceday. The responsibility for ensuring the colt arrives at the start in top shape falls to Sadler’s trusted lieutenant Leyva, himself a former Breeders” Cup-winning jockey. It is a privilege to get on a horse like Flightlines but it‚ is also a big responsibility knowing that you are sitting on the best horse in the world.
Leyva quit riding in 2017 after a successful 16-year career. He won the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on Musical Romance. His best year was 2011 when he rode 105 winners. He used to work a horse once a week or twice a month but now he works a lot more. The effort of having to shed weight to make his rides took its toll. Leyva was born in Mexico and raised in California since the age of five. his father owned horses in the Mexico.
Leyva worked for Sadler at the start of his riding career. He rode a few winners for him in California and kept in touch after retiring. Two years after his Breeders’ Cup win, he was hired as Sadlers' assistant. The association has flourished. In 2017, Leyva got to work alongside his boss at his Santa Anita headquarters. The following year, Accelerate broke the stable”s 0-42 winless streak at BreedERS Cup. It was a breakthrough year as Acceleray landed the Classic at Churchill Downs. As well as Flightline, the Sadles have Bran in the Turf Sprint and Edgeway in Filly & Mare Sprint.
Flightline's exercise rider is confident that his horse will do well in the Keeneland race. He hopes that all the top horses will be able to take part. He has been riding Flightline since the first day he rode him.
