Irad Ortiz | Horse Racing Free Tips

U.S. Claims Multiple H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Awards

Americans were among those honored Mar. 4 at the sixth edition of HH Sheikh Mohammed Horse Racing Excellence Awards at Meydan Racecourse. The ceremony commemorates some of the leading connections who participated at the Dubai World Cup meeting, as well as a pair that were decided by public vote.

“The HH Sheikh Mohammed Horse Racing Excellence Awards were founded in 2017 as an expression of His Highness' love for racing and passion for horses,” said Major General Dr Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, General Manager of Dubai Racing Club. “They recognize the best in the industry, with a nod towards those who have supported our Dubai World Cup meeting, as well as giving racing fans a chance to vote on their favorites through the People's Choice and Best Local Jockey awards.”

French trainer Andre Fabre was given this year's 'Lifetime Achievement Award,' while the popular vote went to Baaeed (GB) for 'People's Choice' and Bernardo Pinheiro for 'Best Local Jockey.'

Here are the American winners:
Best Horse – LIFE IS GOOD
Bred by Gary and May West, the son of Into Mischief sold for $525,000 dollars to China Horse Club at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Life Is Good went on to earn more than $4.5 million throughout his career, which saw him win eight of his 11 starts, including four Grade I races. He finished fourth behind Country Grammar in the G1 Dubai World Cup.

Trained by Todd Pletcher for most of his career, Life Is Good returned to the U.S. and won the GI Whitney H. at Saratoga, which earned him an international rating of 125. That made him the highest-rated horse to come out of the 2022 Dubai World Cup meeting.

Best Owner – WINSTAR FARM and CHINA HORSE CLUB
Winstar Farm and China Horse Club (CHC) combined for joint-ownership of Life Is Good with CHC's Eden Harrington and Morgan Harries representing the partnership.

“These awards acknowledge the exceptionalism of Life Is Good and the phenomenal journey he continues to take China Horse Club and WinStar Farm on,” said Vice President Harrington. “We also congratulate WinStar Farm, with whom we have shared a succession of life changing moments, Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz and the entire team involved with Life Is Good. We also look forward to continuing to support horse racing in Dubai in years to come.”

Best Jockey – IRAD ORTIZ
The Eclipse Award winner, Irad Ortiz continues to be one of the most successful in North America over the past decade, and he led all jockeys in Grade I event wins since the 2022 Dubai World Cup meeting.

Best Trainer – TODD PLETCHER
Also the reigning Eclipse Award winner, Todd Pletcher collected 15 Grade I races, making him the most successful to compete at the 2022 Dubai World Cup meeting.

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Friday Insights: Full To Bellafina Makes Belated Debut

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

4th-GP, $84K, Msw, 4yo/up, 6f, 1:38 p.m.

Though making a belated debut as a 4-year-old, LAKOTA TERRITORY (Quality Road), bred in a partnership by Whisper Hill Farm, Three Chimneys, and JSM Equine, gets his chance to add to his family's legacy Friday out of the Todd Pletcher barn. Out of the Malibu Moon mare Akron Moon, the bay is a full-brother to MGISW Bellafina who brought a final bid of $4,000,000 from Coolmore's M V Magnier in foal to Tiz the Law at last fall's Fasig-Tipton Night of the Stars sale. Bellafina's first foal, a weanling filly by Uncle Mo, sold to Paramount Bloodstock for $1.35 million at the same sale. Also under Akron Moon is another full-sibling to Lakota Territory in MSW and MGSP Diamond King. She'll be represented this year by a 2-year-old Curlin colt who sold for $400,000 to Repole Stable & St. Elias Stables at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale. Recently crowned Eclipse winner Irad Ortiz, Jr. picks up the mount for owner JSM Equine LLC.

Another making a late start is A La Carte (Uncle Mo), a 5-year-old out of Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Leigh Court (Grand Slam). The Speedway Stables homebred recently turned in a bullet work for trainer Bill Mott, going five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 (1/5) Jan. 15. TJCIS PPS

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Friday Insights: Wesley Ward Unveils $560k Turf Sprinter

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

7th-GP, $84K, Msw, 3yo, f, 5fT, 3:07 p.m.

A $560,000 2-year-old purchase by China Horse Club out of the 2022 Keeneland Horses of Racing Age Sale, TACTICAL JOKE (Practical Joke) debuts Friday for trainer Wesley Ward. Already a half-sister to a trio of stakes horses in MSP Afleet Accompli (Afleet Alex), GSP Desert Dynamo (Desert Party), and GSP Ambusher (Stephen Got Even), the filly is out of a half-sister to the dam of GI Central Bank Ashland S. winner Sailor's Valentine (Mizzen Mast)–who brought $1.25m in foal to War Front at the 2019 Keeneland November Sale–while her third dam is MGISW Coup de Fusil (Codex). Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. gets the mount for the five-furlong sprint. TJCIS PPS

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Godolphin Repeats as Top-Earning Owner, with Ortiz and Brown Also on Top in 2022

Godolphin, LLC, which campaigned 14 North American graded stakes winners, was the country's leading owner by earnings for the second year in a row, while jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. established single-season earnings and stakes wins records and Chad Brown was the leading trainer by earnings for the first time since 2019, according to figures released Tuesday by Equibase Company LLC.

Godolphin had 88 North American wins from 438 starts for earnings of $16,343,067, down from its single-season earnings record of $17.4 million set in 2021.

The operation was followed on the leading owner's list by: Klaravich Stables, Inc., $9,438,582 (84 wins/336 starts); Peter M. Brant, $7,772,253 (54/183); Winchell Thoroughbreds, $5,661,750 (33/147); and Juddmonte, $5,633,762 (38/144).

Ortiz reached the winner's circle 325 times from 1,363 mounts in 2022, establishing a single-season earnings record of $37,075,772, eclipsing the previous record of $34.1 million he set in 2019.

Ortiz also set a single-season record for stakes wins with 80 trips to the winner's circle, breaking the former mark of 76 victories set in 2007 by the late Garret Gomez. Ortiz was the leading jockey by earnings for three consecutive years (2018, 2019, and 2020) before finishing second in 2021.

Following Ortiz on the leading jockey's list was: Flavien Prat, $29,832,252 (236 wins/1,013 starts); Joel Rosario, $29,250,139 (185/915); Tyler Gaffalione, $27,360,825 (1,491/266); and Luis Saez, $24,339,905 (272/1,540).

Brown sent out the winners of 244 races from 309 starters with 922 starts for earnings of $31,057,362 in 2022. Todd Pletcher was second on the leading trainer's list with 2022 earnings of $30,482,937 (223 wins/342 starters/1,020 starts); followed by Steve Asmussen, $28,579,134 (382/594/2,155); and Brad Cox, $23,851,590 (222/326/916).

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