Jose Ortiz holds the reputation of one of the United States' top riders, and he put those talents on full display May 31 when guiding Durante to a 33-1 upset in the $275,000 Aristides Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.
"It was one of the best rides I've seen in a long, long time. I've been around awhile," said the 6-year-old gelding's trainer and owner David Jacobson. "This is a masterpiece. He read the pace, saw how fast they were going, and took back. He had plenty of horse at the end. You don't see that too often."
The six-furlong contest began perfectly for Durante, breaking well and finding himself in the early lead despite a history of slow breaks.
Meanwhile, race favorite Skelly found himself last in the opening strides before rushing to his customary forward position for jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. His chief rival in the betting, World Record with Flavien Prat aboard, did not let him get away and pushed from the outside.
Sensing the quick pace, Ortiz backed Durante out of the lead and into third as they posted a blazing quarter in :20.93 and a half-mile in :43.61.
WATCH: Ortiz on Aristides Winner Durante: 'My Day Today'
"He broke like a shot today, I think it helped us a lot," Ortiz said. "I was able to use him early, make them use, then I gave him a breather around the turn and came the last quarter of a mile."
Approaching the quarter pole, Durante had fallen three lengths behind, but was responsive at Ortiz's calling. Skelly waived the white flag and backed up to finish last of six while World Record remained in front, growing leg weary. Durante surged by at the sixteenth pole and opened up to win by a length.
"I looked at Flavien (on World Record), he was traveling very nicely around the turn," Ortiz said. "I wouldn't say I was very confident, but I rode him like he was 8-5. I don't look at the odds."
Those odds were big, paying $68.44 to win while stopping the clock in 1:09.23.
The victory marked Durante's first in graded company since taking the Bold Ruler Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack in October 2023. The key difference, according to Jacobson, was the quick start.
"I'm always a little worried about the break," Jacobson said. "We'd been working with him a lot with the gate, and I guess it paid off. I haven't seen the horse break that sharp in a long time."
A son of Distorted Humor out of the unraced Pioneerof the Nile mare Seahawk Girl, Durante was bred in Kentucky by William Humphries and Altair Farms. His 38th start produced a 10th career victory and increased his career earnings to $821,743.
As part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen series, the Aristides awarded Durante a $30,000 credit toward entry fees to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). Jacobson said the target is now on racing at Del Mar Nov. 1.
"Before the race, it was just wishful thinking," Jacobson said about taking Durante to the Breeders' Cup. "Now, it seems like a reality."
World Record received a $15,000 credit toward his fees for placing second. Giant Mischief and Happy Is a Choice finished in a dead heat for third and will each receive a $7,500 credit toward the Sprint.
