Irad Ortiz gets his first stakes winner of the Belmont Stakes Festival award aboard Chili Flag in the Just a Game. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)
Irad Ortiz, Jr., came very close to winning the Belmont Stakes aboard Mindframe.
Jose Ortiz on the cusp of career 3,000 wins
By Maribeth Kalinich
Irad Ortiz, Jr., and brother Jose Ortiz both had great rides at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.
In addition to second in the Belmont Irad Ortiz, Jr., aboard Mindframe, the solid jockey had a pretty prolific Festival.
Friday, Ortiz started off with a win in a Maiden Special Weight for Todd Pletcher aboard Centential Farm’s Illuminare (City of Light-I Still Miss You x Majestic Warrior) follows by a fourth place for the conditioner aboard his Donegal Forever.
Aboard Gatsas Stables, R.A. Hill Stable and Swick Stable’s Notah (Flatter-Mine All Mine x Belong To Me) for John Terranova Ortiz scored in a starter allowance and then again in Race 7 for Pletcher aboard Lawna and Robert Low’s Munnys Gold (Munnings-Haraawa x Medaglia d’Oro)
Ortiz was not finished. He placed second aboard Christophe Clement trainee Roses for Debra in the Grade 1, Intercontinental then won the Just a Game piloting Madeket Stables, Michael Dubb and Michael Kisber’s Chili Flag (FR) (Cityscape {GB}-Flag Day {GB} x Pivotal {GB})trained by Chad Brown.
He wrapped up his Friday with a second in the Grade 1, Acorn aboard Leslie’s Rose for Pletcher.
With mounts in races 13 of the 14 on the Saturday card, Ortiz started off the day with a second place in an Allowance aboard A1A Racing’s Black Rain (Connect-Sustained x War Front) for trainer Todd Pletcher.
He rode three for trainer Chad Brown. Spaliday in Race 2 (4th), Accretive in the Grade 2, True North (7th) and I’m Very Busy in the Manhattan (7th)
Although he didn’t score on a Brown trainee, Ortiz did deliver for Pletcher in the Grade 2, Suburban aboard Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Crupi (Curlin-Don’tforgetaboutme x Malibu Moon) right after taking third in the Grade 3, Poker (won by his brother) for Pletcher aboar Talk of the Nation.
A quick trip aboard Soul of an Angel in the Grade 1, Ogden Phipps to finish fifth.
Then Ortiz guided Derek Ryan trainee Atlantic Six Racing’s Book’em Danno (Bucchero-Adorabella x Ghostzapper) to a Grade 1, Woody Stephens victory immediately followed by a win for Steve Asmussen aboard Clark Brewster, William Heiligbrodt and Corrine Heiligbrodt’s Cogburn (Not This Time-In A Jif x Saintly Look) in the Grade 1, Jaipur.
He would ride Rick Dutrow’s legendary White Abarrio to fifth place in the Grade 1, Met Mile and then get the game second for Pletcher in the Belmont Stakes aboard Mindframe.
Ortiz finished up on Splashy finishing ninth on a long day of racing.
Jose Ortiz had a pretty nice weekend as well. Just one win away from winning 3,000, Ortiz won the Grade 1, New York aboard Merriebelle Stables and Resulute Racing’s Didia (ARG) (Orpen-Delamare {BRZ} x Rainbow Corner {GB}) for Ignacio Correas on Friday.
Saturday, he scored an upset in the Grade 3, Poker aboard Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Peter Deutch’s Ice Chocolat (BRZ) (Goldikovic {IRE}-Amor Chocolate {BRZ} x Northern Afleetfor Mark Casse and then clocked a third in the Grade 1, Manhattan aboard Christophe Clement’s Far Bridge.
Then Jose beat his brother in the Race 13 Maiden Special with a win aboard AGB Equine Racing’s Downtown Channel (English Channel-Warm Front x War Front) for Horacio De Paz and wrapped up with fifth in the card closer Allowance for Wesley Ward aboard Salty Spray (IRE).
