By Mike Kane
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jockey Jose Ortiz's return to competition at Saratoga Race Course Wednesday was very rewarding with three victories…and taxing.
Ortiz was unseated and fell hard to the ground when his horse clipped heels in the first race of Friday's card. He was sent to Albany Medical Center where he was found to have bruised ribs. Ortiz took off his mounts Saturday and Sunday and was ready to ride again Wednesday, the start of the third week of the meet.
In his comeback, Ortiz won with three of his five mounts. All of the wins were for leading trainer Linda Rice: Ichiban (Street Sense) in the sixth, Amanda's Folly (Mendelssohn) in the eighth and Indian Mischief (Into Mischief) in the 10th. Indian Mischief came out in the stretch and appeared to interfere with runner-up He's a Lucky Guy (Street Boss), but the stewards did not change the order of finish.
Ortiz has 11 victories at Saratoga this summer and has ridden eight of Rice's 13 winners. They were the leading jockey and trainer at the spring meet at Belmont Park.
Ortiz and Ichiban Wednesday | Sarah Andrew
After willing Ichiban to win the sixth race by a head with a hard ride through the stretch, Ortiz took part in the post-race winner's circle photographs, did a television interview and–clearly needing a breather–sat down.
“I feel better,” he said. “This filly made me a little bit tired. I had to ride her a lot, but I'm just glad to be back.”
Ortiz said he got on horses Sunday and Wednesday mornings and was no longer dealing with pain from the injuries.
“I'm pretty good about the ribs,” he said. “Just a little bit winded now. She was very lazy today.”
Ortiz was aboard for Ichiban's maiden-breaking seven-furlong victory on July 15, when she was up on the pace. In the mile and an eighth, two-turn race Wednesday, she was four lengths behind the leader at the top of the stretch and looked beaten. Ortiz pushed her and she responded.
“I was a little bit worried because the other horse opened up on me,” he said, “but I'm just glad we got there first.”
Ortiz came off Same Old Fears (Uncle Mo) near the finish of the program opener Friday. He stayed on the ground for several minutes, was helped to his feet and was able to walk off the course. At that point, it appeared that he might have some serious injuries.
“I was feeling a lot of pain when I left here, so I thought I cracked a rib or something,” he said. “I'm just happy to be back.”
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