BELMONT, N.Y. — Irad Ortiz, Jr., the leading rider at the Belmont spring/summer meet with 36 wins, will be out for a period of about two weeks after being unseated in Thursday’s fifth race, agent Steve Rushing said.
Ortiz, Jr., who was set to pilot Known Agenda in Saturday’s Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, was aboard Equal Pay, who propped in the stretch run of the 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight. Equal Pay was collared by the outrider and walked home under her own power.
A replacement rider for Known Agenda has yet to be named.
The 28-year-old native of Trujilo Alto, Puerto Rico, who has won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey for the past three years running, was transported to hospital for further evaluation and cleared.
“A CT scan and x-rays were negative,” said Rushing. “He will probably be out for two weeks.”
Ortiz, Jr. piloted Creator to an upset win in the 2016 Belmont Stakes in his lone American classic victory to date.
NYRA Press Office
Photo: Irad Ortiz (Susie Raisher)
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