One by one, Ortiz is adding North America’s richest races to his roster of major wins. In 2019, Ortiz became the first rider to win more than $30 million in a single year, pushing his final tally to $34,109,019. He’s guided several champions to career-defining victories, including Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar. Indeed, Ortiz has led the nation by earnings in three of the last four years, and by wins every year since 2017. (G1)… more than $20 million in earnings every year since 2014… at least 300 winners every year since 2015… 225 graded stakes wins… 66 Grade 1 wins… 14 Breeders’ Cup triumphs… a victory in the Belmont S. His career has already produced an extraordinary array of highlights. It’s hard to believe the 29-year-old from Puerto Rico has only been riding since 2011, first in his homeland and shortly thereafter on the U.S. The raw statistics paint a vivid picture of Ortiz’s dominance. “She’s one of the favorite horses I’ve had all time.There’s a reason why Irad Ortiz has won three Eclipse Awards for outstanding jockey. The Maryland Jockey Club caught up with assistant trainer and exercise rider Jose Vargas to talk about the “talented, tough, tall” 5-year-old mare trained by Michael Stidham. Newtown Anner Stud and Mark Breen’s Saguaro Row, second in the Go for Wand (G2) and a winner of two of her last three starts, is the 9-5 favorite in Saturday’s Runhappy Fritchie. “I’ve never rode him before but he’s doing great, working good, so, hopefully, we’ll get it done,” he said. Ortiz is also looking forward to riding Dreams Untold, a John Servis-trained son of Smarty Jones who broke his maiden Jan.4 by 14 ¼ lengths Seven furlongs is in between, so I think he’ll be fine.” “He’s done a mile before and won and he’s won at six furlongs, so he can do either one. Ortiz has been aboard him in nine of his last 11 starts. Winner of the Champagne (G1) at 2 and the Dwyer (G3) at 3, Firenze Fire is 4-5 in the morning line. A winner of $1.6 million and nine of 23 starts, the Jason Servis-trained 5-year-old ended his 2019 campaign with wins in listed stakes at Aqueduct and Penn National after finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). When asked about riding at Laurel, Ortiz said, “If you have the horse you’ll be alright.”įirenze Fire could be the horse in the seven-furlong General George.
Ortiz has ridden only 15 times at Laurel, with one win, four seconds and three thirds, according to Equibase. That afternoon Ortiz finished second in the Miracle Wood, seventh in the Fritchie and second to Imperial Hint in the General George aboard Stallwalkin’ Dude. Ortiz’s last trip to Laurel was also on Fritchie-General George Day in 2017. Campbell with favorite and graded-stakes winner Monongahela, owned by Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables LLC and Gary Aisquith. Amore Stable’s Grade 1 winner Firenze Fire, Someday Farm’s promising 3-year-old Dreams Untold in the Miracle Wood, and in the $100,000 John B. Ortiz, named the country’s Eclipse champion in 20, will ride in five races, including the General George aboard Mt. first race post, will include the $250,000 Runhappy Barbara Fritchie (G3), $250,000 General George (G3) and three other stakes including the $100,000 Miracle Wood for 3-year-old colts and geldings But Ortiz, currently the leading rider at Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet, will ride Saturday’s stakes-laden card.
In fact, it’s been three years since the two-time Eclipse Award winning rider has visited Laurel. LAUREL, MD – Irad Ortiz Jr., the country’s leading rider, doesn’t make many trips to Laurel Park. Video: Vargas Talks “Talented, Tough” Saguaro Row
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