irad ortiz jr | Horse Racing Free Tips

Gulfstream Park: Irad Ortiz Jr. Poised To Break Meet Record; Newly Arrived Edwin Gonzalez Rides On Saturday

Leading rider Irad Ortiz Jt. rode four winners on Thursday's program at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., moving to within two victories of the Championship Meet record.

Ortiz, the defending two-time Championship Meet titlist, won back-to-back aboard Ghostly Beauty ($3.60) in Race 4 and Trappezoid ($8.80) in Race 5 before scoring aboard Star Weaver ($4.40) in Race 7 and Foxxy Belle ($5.80) in Race 9.

With three days remaining in the 2020-2021 Championship Meet, Ortiz has a total of 135, two fewer than Luis Saez's record of 137, set in 2017-2018.

Ortiz has seven mounts Friday and is named to ride in 13 of 14 races Saturday, when he is scheduled to ride Todd Pletcher-trained Known Agenda in the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa.

Ortiz, the defending three-time Eclipse Award champion, is also scheduled to ride in all 12 races on Sunday's program.

Gonzalez Named on 4 Horses Saturday on First Day at Gulfstream
Journeyman Edwin Gonzalez, Penn National's leading rider the last two years while winning at over a 30 percent clip, will begin his Gulfstream Park residency with four mounts on Saturday's blockbuster 14-race Curlin Florida Derby Day program.

Gonzalez has mounts in two of Saturday's 10 stakes – Frosted Grace in the $100,000 Sir Shackleton in Race 5 and Dizzy in the $100,000 Orchid (G3) in Race 13. He is also scheduled in a pair of maiden special weight events aboard 3-year-old colt Core in Race 1 and 3-year-old filly My Desdemona in Race 7. Gonzalez is named in seven of 12 races Sunday at Gulfstream, closing day of the 2020-2021 Championship Meet.

Gulfstream's 105-day spring-summer meet is scheduled to open Thursday, April 1 and run through Thursday, Sept. 30.

A multiple group stakes winner in his native Puerto Rico, where he won 443 races before coming to the U.S. in 2013, Gonzalez owns 1,445 career victories. He ranked 14th overall in North American wins in 2020 (177) and 11th in 2019 (236).

Gonzalez was second in wins during the 2017 Tampa Bay Downs meet and won six races there on March 10 of that year. He will be represented by Kevin Meyocks, who also serves as agent for Luca Panici.

Winner of the 2017 Arlington Handicap (G3) with Ghost Hunter, Gonzalez last rode March 17 at Penn National, winning two races to push his meet-leading total to 36. He also won six races Feb. 17 and five races March 4.

The post Gulfstream Park: Irad Ortiz Jr. Poised To Break Meet Record; Newly Arrived Edwin Gonzalez Rides On Saturday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘Champions Talk’ to Feature Five Champion Jockeys

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy announced the 2021 renewal of its Champions Talk fundraiser will feature five retired champion jockeys–Ángel Cordero Jr., Chris McCarron, Richard Migliore, Laffit Pincay Jr. and Jorge Velasquez. The quintet won over 34,000 races. The fundraiser will premiere on the organization's YouTube Channel and Facebook page Aug. 11, 2021.

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., a three-time Eclipse award winner, will also be honored in recognition of his dedication and support of the backstretch community in New York. Durkin, the former New York Racing Association announcer, will once again serve as the moderator for the panel and the discussion will be held in the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Saratoga Springs.

“Champions Talk was so popular that we decided to make it a permanent part of our calendar,” said Ramón Dominguez, the President of the Board of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy.

“We are thrilled to have this star-studded lineup of riders and we know that fans will thoroughly enjoy hearing their tales and recollections from some of the most memorable races in the history of the sport.”

Tickets and sponsorships are available for the taping of the event which will be followed by a cocktail reception July 19 at Fasig-Tipton. In accordance with health protocols, a limited number of seats for the taping will be sold to the public and made available to sponsors.

As was the case last year, this event will be the sole Saratoga fundraiser for the organization.

“The needs of the backstretch workers over the past year have been even greater due to the pandemic and we hope racing fans will once again demonstrate their generosity by supporting

this event,” Rev. Humberto Chavez said.

For more information on tickets, or make a contribution to the NY Chaplaincy, visit www.rtcany.org.

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Pegasus Turf Winner Colonel Liam Adds Muniz Memorial Classic To Resume

Colonel Liam, favored at 3-5 after winning the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park in January, reeled in pacesetter Two Emmys in mid-stretch and went on to a 1 1/2-length victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La.

Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. for Todd Pletcher, the 4-year-old Liam's Map colt ran 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:48.33 and paid $3.40 to win. The Muniz was the fifth victory in seven starts for the Robert and Lawana Low runner, who was bred in Kentucky by Phillips Racing Partnership and purchased for $1.2 million as a 2-year-old at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s April sale.

Two Emmys held second, with Logical Myth 3 1/2 lengths back third and Pixelate fourth in the field of 10 older runners. Factor This and Cross Border were scratched.

Ortiz had Colonel Liam in fourth position along the rail in the early going, then gained on Two Emmys while saving ground approaching the far turn. Colonel Liam came off the rail on the turn, engaged with Two Emmys and gradually pulling away under left-handed encouragement from his rider.

Colonel Liam was the 5-2 favorite in the Pegasus Turf, edging Pletcher stablemate Largent by a neck. That was his first graded victory, coming off a win in the listed Tropical Park Derby in late December at Gulfstream.

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Irad Ortiz Bobblehead Promotion Brings In $22K For PDJF

Jockeys and Jeans in conjunction with Uncle Louie G's Italian Ices, an onsite Gulfstream Park vendor, raised over $22,000 for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund Saturday March 13 through sales of the masked Irad Ortiz bobbleheads at the track and online.

Ortiz personally signed hundreds of the bubbleheads and Klaravich Stables, whose colors the bobblehead wears, made a substantial donation.

“To say this promotion was a success would be an understatement,” said Jockey and Jeans President, Barry Pearl. “Irad Ortiz is not only a champion rider but a first-class guy who truly cares about his fallen brothers and sisters. He spent a lot of time with us preparing for this event. And the entire team at Gulfstream Park really came through for us as they have in the past, and we know they will in the future.”

Jockeys and Jean Committee member Kenny Katz, who owns Uncle Louie G's Italian ices which sells at the track, birthed the idea and worked closely with track staff to make it a success. Last year he also oversaw the Tyler Gaffalione Bobblehead sale at the same track.

“I'm always amazed and truly touched when racing fans everywhere spend their hard-earned money to help disabled former jockeys,” said Katz.

Pearl and committee member Leah Whitsell, along with paraplegic former jockey Roger Blanco, were also on hand.

“I want to thank all who helped and especially every one of those many hundreds who purchased a bobblehead,” said Pearl. “We are still getting orders from around the world.”

You can still order a Irad Ortiz bobblehead at JockeysandJeans.com

Jockeys and Jeans was founded in late 2014 by five former jockeys, and the all-volunteer group has since raised over $1.6 million for the PDJF, which makes monthly payments to over 60 former jockeys who suffered career ending racing injuries.

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