Jockey Jose Ortiz was taken to Albany Medical Center for evaluation after being dislodged from the Wesley Ward-trained Same Old Fears (Uncle Mo) as the field for race one was crossing the wire Friday at Saratoga.
“Same Old Fears unseated Jose Ortiz near the finish of today's Saratoga opener,” read a statement from NYRA. “Jose Ortiz was upright and alert but 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 was alert and walked on to the ambulance under his own power.
Steve Rushing, Ortiz's agent, later said, “Thankfully only bruised ribs, not sure when he will return to riding. Taking [it] day by day.”
A spokesman for NYRA reiterated, “Jose Ortiz was evaluated at Albany Medical Center this afternoon. He has bruised ribs, but X-rays revealed no fractures. Agent Steve Rushing describes Ortiz as day-to-day.”
Sent off odds of 7-2 in a race moved from the turf and contested at 5 1/2 furlongs over a 'good' main track, Same Old Fears set the fractions and carried a narrow advantage into the final eighth of a mile. The filly remained in contention as they lined up approaching the wire, but Same Old Fears clipped heels with odds-on Foxhole (Constitution)–the mount of his brother Irad Ortiz, Jr.–and fell heavily, throwing Ortiz. Stewards ruled that the filly had carried weight through the line and thus her fourth-place finish was allowed to stand.
The race was won by Ken Ramsey's Billy the Greek (Goldencents), who skimmed the rail to be up in the final strides.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
