When you're hot, you're hot. And reigning Eclipse Award jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. is definitely hot. Three Breeders' Cup wins at Keeneland were capped by three wins Sunday at Aqueduct including two stakes, plus he established a new single-year North American record for earnings by a jockey. Ortiz, Jr. was voted Jockey of the Week for Oct. 31 through Nov. 6. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, honors jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.
Ortiz, Jr.'s outstanding weekend began on Friday at Keeneland winning the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile aboard Forte for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. After saving ground while in fifth, Ortiz, Jr. angled Forte outside approaching the top of the lane. Forte confronted odds-on favorite Cave Rock in the stretch and drew clear to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:43.06 for the 1 1/16 miles over a fast track.
“Beautiful trip,” said Ortiz, Jr. “I broke good, saved some ground and took my time down the backside. I started making my move around the turn. He (Forte) deserves all the credit.”
On Saturday, trainer Chad Brown gave a leg up to regular rider, Ortiz, Jr. on Goodnight Olive in the G1 Filly and Mare Sprint. Off as the favorite in the field of 12, Goodnight Olive took command at the top of the stretch and cruised to a 2 1/2-length win in 1:21.61 for seven furlongs.
“Lot of speed in the race,” said Ortiz, Jr. “She broke on top but I didn't want to rush her. When she is on her game, she can do anything. I've ridden her and I knew that.”
Continuing his winning ways, Ortiz, Jr. was in the saddle on Elite Power for the first time for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott in the G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint. Elite Power surged by favored Jackie's Warrior at the sixteenth pole cruising to a 1 1/4-length victory in 1:09.11 for the six furlongs. The win was Ortiz, Jr.'s 17th in the World Championships.
“I had the perfect trip,” said Ortiz, Jr. “He broke real sharp and I let him settle. I was able to cut the corner around the turn. When I tipped him out, he was there for me.”
Ortiz, Jr. was back at Aqueduct on Sunday winning three races including a stakes sweep of the G3 Nashua with Champions Dream for trainer Danny Gargan and the Tempted Stakes on Good Sam for trainer Chad Brown. Both races were for a 2-year-olds at one mile. With the wins, Ortiz, Jr. established a new single-year North American record for earnings by a jockey with $34,628,316.
Other nominees for Jockey of the Week included Junior Alvarado who won the G1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile with Cody's Wish, Luis Alberto Batista who was the leading jockey for the week in wins with 12, Flavien Prat who won the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic aboard Flightline, and Edgard Zayas who won two stakes races at Gulfstream Park and recorded his 2,000th career win.
The post Jockey Of The Week: Irad Ortiz, Jr. Sets Single Season Earnings Record, Wins Three Breeders’ Cup Races appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
