Tag: People

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. continued his successful run at the Saratoga Race Course summer meet by capturing five races on Saturday's 11-race program.

“It's great. It's an amazing feeling. We show up every day positive trying to win as many as we can. We had an amazing day today having five winners,” said Ortiz, who leads the meet with 19 wins.

Ortiz, 30, secured the early double, piloting Repole Stable's 2-year-old Noted [Race 1, $3.50*] to a second-out maiden score over the inner turf course for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher before returning to the winner's circle after guiding Paddington [Race 2, $4.70] to an 8 1/2-length score in a nine-furlong starter allowance for 3-year-olds and upward for current meet leading trainer Linda Rice.

He piloted Klaravich Stables' Undervalued Asset [Race 5, $4.50*] to victory in a seven-furlong allowance event for fillies and mares for four-time Eclipse Award winning trainer Chad Brown. One race later, he captured the Grade 3, $200,000 Caress for older fillies and mares going 5 1/2 furlongs over the Mellon turf course aboard the Christophe Clement-trained Roses for Debra [Race 6, $5.50*].

Ortiz teamed up with Klaravich Stables and Brown once more when capping off his five-win day in a six-furlong allowance test for 3-year-olds and upward aboard Accretive [Race 10, $3.70*], who had not run since finishing fifth in last year's Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial at the Spa.

“Sometimes you look at the program and see that you have some live mounts and you might not win any of them or you might win one that you didn't think you had a shot on, but that's the way the game goes. That's the way this business is,” said Ortiz, who rode every race on the card. “We understand that, but today we looked good and thank God every horse today showed up.”

Ortiz spoke volumes of Brown, who he collaborated with to capture four stakes at last year's Saratoga meet.

“He's a very, very good trainer with lots of good horses,” Ortiz said. “He's one of the best and greatest. I ride for a lot of trainers that do a great job, too. I'm just happy and enjoying the moment.”

The post Ortiz Jr. Rides Five Winners On Saratoga’s 11-Race Card appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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A lot goes into being a successful Thoroughbred trainer. You have to be good with the horses. You have to know how to handle the different owners and the media. You must be good at organizing the dozens of employees needed to keep the operation running smoothly and you have to juggle it all with your personal life.

Philip D'Amato appears to have found the right formula, right down to getting his son to golf lessons on time. The 47-year-old Southern California native comes to Del Mar looking to notch his fourth consecutive trainers title having won it last fall, sharing it with Bob Baffert last summer and winning it outright in the fall of 2021.

On top of that, he won both training titles at Santa Anita this past winter and spring and he's brought the same quality band of horses down to Del Mar this summer.

“With Del Mar, the money's great and turf racing is at a premium here,” D'Amato says. “We always try to do our best here. You can tell by the deep fields it's not going to be easy but we're going to come out firing.”

He promptly notched his first stakes race by winning the initial stakes of the meet, Friday's $100,000 Caesars Sportsbook Oceanside Stakes with Conclude.

While D'Amato is not exclusively a grass trainer, he brings a string of impressive turf runners to the table. He's won 11 graded stakes races so far this year, nine were on the grass and one was taken off-the-turf. The list of his winners is a who's who of the turf division: Gold Phoenix, Macadamia, Count Again, Earls Rock, and Hong Kong Harry. In the past he's saddled the likes of Going to Vegas, Going Global, Leggs Galore, Midnight Storm, Bowies Hero and Obviously.

He's done an excellent job of finding the right spots for all of his stars with minimum crossover. All the more impressive when you consider there's no turf training at Santa Anita or anywhere in Southern California from the time the horses leave Del Mar in the fall until they come back in July.

“I think we're all on a level playing field,” D'Amato says in regards to having no turf training up at Santa Anita. “I think it helps horses to breeze them on the grass but there are some horses where it doesn't make a difference. You just have to know which ones.”

D'Amato had his best year ever, in terms of earnings, in 2022. His horses compiled winnings of $11,954,300, eighth best among trainers in the nation. He tallied 125 victories, 23 of those graded stakes, and his horses finished in the money 57% of the time. Many of those were Irish-breds. In fact all six of his graded stakes winners at Del Mar last year were from Ireland. D'Amato believes he has a good mix again this year.

“I think I've got plenty of good Irish-breds as well as Kentucky-breds and Cal-breds,” D'Amato says. “We've got a nice balanced stable at Del Mar.”

D'Amato has been running horses at Del Mar since 2012 and he wouldn't be anywhere else come summertime.

“Definitely the change and the weather,” D'Amato says, “and the surroundings, you can't beat it. The nice beach setting with the cool breezes and the nice lush turf course. A lot of pluses.”

The post D’Amato Riding Wave Of Consecutive Training Titles At Del Mar appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Jockey Jose Ortiz, winner of the leading rider title at Belmont Park's most recent meet, was involved in a spill near the finish of Saratoga's first race on Friday, July 21. The rider was transported to Albany Medical Center for evaluation after being unseated from Wesley Ward trainee Same Old Fears.

Ortiz walked into the ambulance under his own power, “albeit unsteadily,” according to bloodhorse.com.

The New York Racing Association gave a statement to the Thoroughbred Daily News: “Same Old Fears unseated Jose Ortiz near the finish of today's Saratoga opener. Jose Ortiz was upright and alert by was transported to Albany Med for further evaluation and is off his mounts. The filly was unharmed and was provided a precautionary van ride home.”

Ortiz took off the rest of Friday's card.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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Jon Schuster, longtime Vice President and General Manager of Racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, is remembered annually for his contributions to the Indiana horse racing program. He is honored each year during the state's biggest day of racing on Indiana Derby with the $100,000 Jonathan Schuster Memorial race. He is also remembered through an annual scholarship donation in his name. His daughters, Abi (Schuster) Mangone and Rachel Schuster, are always trackside to assist with the trophy presentation of the Schuster Memorial as well as a check presentation during the event.

Schuster, a native of Central Indiana and resident of Shelbyville, was a graduate of the Racetrack Industry Program (RTIP) at the University of Arizona. Since his passing in 2019, Horseshoe Indianapolis has donated $2,500 into the scholarship fund in memory of Schuster to assist other aspiring students looking to advance into horse racing industry jobs.

“We are so honored to be included in the race each year for our father,” said Abi (Shuster) Mangone. “The Racetrack Industry Program was so important to our dad, and he would be thrilled knowing a donation was being made in his name to that program.”

Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing, joined Abi and Rachel for the special presentation following the race. Jockey Gerardo Corrales and Assistant Trainer John Lynde of the Mike Maker Stable teamed up for the win with Me and Mr. C in the Schuster Memorial and were also present for the check presentation.

“We miss our dad so much and being able to come back every year and be part of this presentation means everything to us,” added Rachel Schuster. “Our dad dedicated his whole life to horse racing. That was his passion. We are glad his name is remembered annually during Indiana Derby with both the race and this scholarship.”

This is the fourth year a donation has been made to the program at the University of Arizona. The program prepares and educates students interested in all types of employment in the racing industry, from racetrack management to state governing positions such as stewards, placing judges, and racing office staff.

“I'm actually a graduate myself of the RTIP so I know how valuable this program is to our industry,” added Halstrom. “We wanted to do something that would be beneficial in Jon's name each year, and by awarding scholarship money to this program, we feel other students can follow in the footsteps of Jon and be future leaders in racing.”

The 21st season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Friday, Nov. 17. Live racing is held Tuesday through Thursday with Saturday racing added in during the summer months. First post Tuesday and Wednesday is 2:30 p.m. Thursday racing begins at 2:10 p.m. The Summer Saturday Racing Series includes four all-Quarter Horse dates July 22, Aug. 12, Sept. 2, and Oct. 7 beginning at 10:45 a.m. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.

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