Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. has added another record to his already impressive list of riding accomplishments. At Gulfstream Park on Friday, Ortiz, Jr. won seven races on the day's nine-race card. While he is the sixth jockey to ride seven winners at Gulfstream Park, he is the first to do so in consecutive races. Friday's accomplishment was just part of Ortiz, Jr.'s weekend as he also won two graded races.
The panel of racing experts voted Ortiz, Jr. Jockey of the Week for Jan. 30 through Feb. 5. The award honors jockeys for riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.
On Friday, Ortiz, Jr. had a mount in each of the day's nine races. After finishing fifth in the first race on the favorite, his win streak began with Dignified in Race 2 for trainer Jose Garoffalo, Little Jewel in Race 3 for Carlo Vaccarezza, Lakota Territory in Race 4 for Todd Pletcher, Riveting Spirit in Race 5 for Saffie Joseph, Tape to Tape in Race 6 for Larry Rivelli, Rhymes Like Dimes in Race 7 for Saffie Joseph and Six Minus in Race 8 for Todd Pletcher. He finished seventh in the day's final race.
“Everything worked out so well today, and I'm thankful,” said Ortiz, Jr. “Everything came out perfect out there. It was one of those days where everything goes your way, so you enjoy it.”
On Saturday, the red-hot Ortiz, Jr. was aboard Major Dude for trainer Todd Pletcher in the Grade 3 Kitten's Joy. Breaking from post position four, Major Dude settled in fifth before moving outside at the top of the stretch, getting up inside the eighth pole to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Major Dude's final time for the 1 1/16-mile turf test was 1:39.85.
Riding again for Todd Pletcher in the G3 Sweetest Chant, Ortiz, Jr. was aboard the favorite, Cairo Consort. After a disastrous start, Cairo Consort spotted the field several lengths settling in ninth but with a patient ride, came rolling down the center of the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length. Her final time for the 1 1/16-mile turf test was 1:40.95.
“When she missed the break, I just let her relax,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “She was happy back there, relaxing. By the turn she wanted to go. I didn't want to go too wide, so we cut the corner. She was there and gave me a good turn of foot.”
Ortiz, Jr., a 30-year-old native of Puerto Rico, was recently awarded his fourth Eclipse Award as Outstanding Jockey. His mount earnings of more than $37 million last year and 80 stakes victories set all-time records. He currently leads the standings at the Championship meet with 49 winners, eight more than defending champ, Luis Saez.
Other contenders for Jockey of the Week included Reylu Gutierrez who won three stakes races at Delta Downs, Harry Hernandez who led all riders in wins for the week with 12, Flavien Prat with two graded stakes wins at Santa Anita, and Luis Saez who won two graded stakes at Gulfstream Park.
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