Irad Ortiz Jr.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. paced all other riders at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet to secure the leading rider title with 35 wins. Hall of Famer Javier Castellano came in second [27 wins] with Manny Franco and Jose Lezcano tied for third [23 wins]. Ortiz, Jr. earned his 21st NYRA meet title on the heels of a strong summer meet at Saratoga Race Course where he posted 55 wins. Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown earned his fourth NYRA meet title of the year with 24 winners, finishing...

On paper, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Robert LaPenta and Gainesway Stable's Capensis (Tapit), a $2-million Keeneland September yearling purchase and impressive debut winner at Belmont early this summer, was the most lightly-raced yet still appeared to be among the top contenders in Colonial's GIII New Kent County Virginia Derby Tuesday evening. Backed down to 8-5 favoritism while stepping up to graded company following a sixth in a Saratoga allowance July 30, the flashy grey swept from off the pace late, and despite running greenly in the stretch, took home the lion's...

Life Is Good (Into Mischief) caught a flier right out of the gate, strutted his stuff up front for six furlongs and fought off a pair of stubborn challengers through the Saratoga stretch to capture Saturday's $1-million GI Whitney S., punch his ticket to the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic and stick his nose in front of a crowded Horse of the Year race. Running away to a 9 1/2-length debut romp and 'TDN Rising Star' honors for Bob Baffert in November of 2020 at Del Mar, the $525,000 Keeneland...

Already off to a hot start with his first-crop runners that includes a Group 2 winner in Ireland, Triple Crown winner Justify wasted no time putting an American graded stakes win on the board as his daughter Just Cindy kicked clear late to take Thursday's opening-day GIII Schuylerville S. at Saratoga, the first graded event for juveniles run in North America in 2022. Unveiled as a poorly-kept secret at 6-5 going 5 1/2 furlongs June 17 at Churchill Downs, the Clarkland Farm homebred settled off the pace professionally and drew...

Trainer Chad Brown notched a record-extending seventh consecutive training title at the Belmont spring/summer meeting with 47 victories, the record for most wins earned by a trainer at a Belmont spring/summer meet. Irad Ortiz, Jr. secured the leading rider title with 48 wins, while Michael Dubb paced all owners with 16 wins. The Belmont spring/summer meet was conducted for 44 days from Apr. 28 through July 10. The previous training record of 44 victories, set by David Jacobson at the 56-day 2013 spring/summer meet, was broken when 3-year-old filly Demandsrespect...

6th-Belmont, $90,000, Msw, 6-26, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:17.35, ft, 5 3/4 lengths. ACCRETIVE (g, 3, Practical Joke--Mallory Street {SP, $111,837}, by Street Sense), bet hard for this belated unveiling Sunday at Belmont, ran to the money with a dominant victory despite covering significantly much more ground than all of his rivals. Displaying a shark worktab from Chad Brown's auxiliary base at Monmouth, capped by a bullet five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 (1/7) June 17, the gelding was favored throughout the wagering before breaking as the 5-4 chalk. Settling in fifth...

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Was handed a five-day suspension Wednesday by the Royal Ascot stewards for his ride aboard Love Reigns (Ire) (US Navy Flag) in the GII Queen Mary S. earlier in the day. According to the Ascot Stewards' Report posted on the British Horseracing Authority's website, Ortiz allowed his mount "to drift left-handed without sufficient correction." The incident occurred a sixteenth of a mile into the race when Ortiz allowed the Wesley Ward-trained filly to drift, impeding three others.  The stewards' report noted that Omniqueen (GB) (Tasleet) {GB})...

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky. Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.   California Track: Santa Anita Date: 06/03/2022 Licensee: Irad Ortiz, jockey Penalty: $500 Violation: Excessive use of the whip Explainer: Jockey Irad Ortiz is fined $500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(7)(d) (Use of Riding Crop - more than...

The well-established team of Wesley Ward and Irad Ortiz Jr. will joins forces for the upcoming Royal meeting, which begins June 14. Ward, who became the first American-based trainer to saddle a winner at the Royal Ascot in 2009, confirmed that Ortiz will partner all five of his contenders next week. A three-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey in the U.S., the Puerto Rican native will be making is debut at the meet. "He's won all over in America and he's just a phenomenal rider who rides with extreme patience," explained Ward....

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 1st-BEL, $75K, MSW, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:00 p.m. ANDIAMO A FIRENZE (Speightstown), a half-brother to Grade I-winning sprinter Firenze Fire (Poseidon's Warrior), debuts in this spot for trainer Kelly Breen. His older brother won a total of 13 black-type events for Breen and earned over $2.7 million. He is also a half-brother to stakes-placed Firenze Freedom (Istan). The Mr Amore Stable homebred has posted back-to-back bullet works at Belmont, going four furlongs from the gate May 12 in :47 3/5 (1/44) and five furlongs May...

Former claimer Lady Scarlet recorded a career-high victory Friday when coming from off the pace to take the GIII Miss Preakness S. at Pimlico. Allowed to survey the pace in third early as 4-5 favorite Happy Soul, prompted by Gimmick, led the way through opening fractions of :23.01 and :45.58, the dark bay was given the cue by Irad Ortiz, Jr. while swinging out wide turning for home. Slowly reeling in the battling leaders down the lane, she took over and powered clear to score by 3 3/4 lengths over...

Owner Mike Repole purchased a minority interest in GI Kentucky Derby contender and GII Wood Memorial S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), ownership group Donegal Racing announced Friday. The price and ownership stake were not disclosed. Mo Donegal, a $250,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, captured Aqueduct's GII Remsen S. over future GI Toyota Blue Grass winner Zandon (Upstart). Third in the Feb. 5 GIII Holy Bull S. behind White Abarrio (Race Day) and Simplification (Not This Time), he returned to New York Apr. 9 for the Wood Memorial S., rallying...