By anyone's standards, Jose Ortiz had an outstanding week posting a remarkable 16 wins from 40 mounts and earning his second leading rider title at Churchill Downs with 63 wins. The panel of racing experts appreciated those achievements voting Ortiz Jockey of the Week June 23-29.
The weekly honor recognizes jockeys for significant riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.
Going into the final week of racing, Ortiz had a three-win lead over Luis Saez in the jockey standings but took command to finish well clear of Saez who finished with 47 wins and Brian Hernandez, Jr. with 39.
Ortiz posted the first of his multiple win days on Wednesday. Riding for trainer David Jacobson, Ortiz won the first race on Copper Em. Ortiz then piloted Tiz In Sight to a win in the fourth race for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. Trainers Joe Sharp and Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen provided Ortiz with wins in the fifth race with Pancake House and the sixth race with Volatile.
Trainer Fergus Bogle gave a leg up to Ortiz for the win on Mugatu in Thursday's second race.
On Friday, Ortiz recorded five wins beginning in the first race aboard Ambridge for trainer Grant Forster, the fourth race for trainer Linda Rice for Problematica, the fifth race for Joe Sharp on Write Off Jerry and the ninth race also for Joe Sharp with Let My People Go. Ortiz ended the day with a win in race 10 for trainer Philip Bauer on Little Prankster.
Ortiz posted another four-win day on Saturday starting in the first race for Steve Asmussen aboard Papa Ken as well as the second race for Asmussen with Ambition. Cherie DeVaux and Ortiz teamed to win the third race with So Sandy. Ortiz's final win came in race four with El Magnifico for Joe Sharp.
On closing day Sunday, Ortiz won the first race for Steve Asmussen aboard Gun Party and the fourth race for trainer Tom Amoss on Dazzle d'Oro. Ortiz's 16 wins for the week were for 10 different trainers.
"I'm very happy, I feel great, my body feels great. That's the main thing," said Ortiz to BloodHorse after capturing the jockey title. "I think I pass that to the horse and ride with confidence."
Ortiz previously tied for the leading jockey title with Tyler Gaffalione at the Churchill Downs 2024 spring meet. Earlier this year, he won his first riding title at Fair Grounds by more than 50 wins over his nearest rival.
Ortiz will ride this weekend at the July 4th Racing Festival at Saratoga. He will then ride the Saratoga meet which begins July 10 and return to Churchill Downs for their fall meet.
Other contenders for Jockey of the Week included Brian Hernandez, Jr. who won three stakes races including two graded, Sonny Leon who celebrated his 1,000th career win and a stakes race, Irad Ortiz, Jr. who won the Stephen Foster (GI) and Flavien Prat who won his 2,000th career race and two stakes races.
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