As the Saratoga Race Course meet winds down, Jose Ortiz continues his pursuit of top jockey honors with three stakes wins including the Lake Placid (G2T) and the Ballerina (G1) for a total of nine races for the week. The panel of racing experts voted Ortiz Jockey of the Week for August 18 through August 24.
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 U.S.
After a quick trip to Parx Racing on Tuesday, Ortiz was back at Saratoga on Wednesday for a win the second for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. with R Disaster and the seventh for trainer Linda Rice aboard Passing Game.
On Thursday, Ortiz posted a double for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen with a win in the eighth on Perfect Shot and the ninth aboard Iron Dome in the Albany Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds.
Off as the overwhelming favorite in the field of five, Iron Dome broke from post position four and tracked Hit the Post with Chris Elliott in the irons before taking over near the quarter pole. The 3-year-old Iron Dome went on to win by a commanding 6-3/4 lengths in 1:51.78 for one mile and one-eighth on the dirt. The win was the colt's third straight with Ortiz in the saddle.
"He was travelling beautifully and I was very happy the whole race around," said Ortiz to NYRA publicity. "He was relaxed and happy, so I was, too."
On Friday, Ortiz won the second for trainer Jeremiah Englehart with Tricky Temper and the fifth for Linda Rice aboard Tarpaulin.
On Travers Day Saturday, Ortiz won the sixth for trainer Tom Amoss aboard the promising 2-year-old, Big Dom then got a leg up from trainer Joe Lee aboard May Day Ready in the Lake Placid. Put on the lead by her new rider, May Day Ready repelled a challenge by the favored Play With Fire to win by a half-length in 1:35.70 for one mile on the inner turf for 3-year-old fillies.
Next, Ortiz was aboard the Hall of Famer Bob Baffert-trained Hope Road in the Gr. I Ballerina for the first time. Off as the 2-1 favorite in the field of seven, the 4-year-old California invader raced in third before making her move on the far turn taking control at the eighth pole to sail home by two lengths in 1:21.93 for seven furlongs on the dirt for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and up. The Ballerina is a "Win and You're In' for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
This week, Ortiz will be riding at the unique six-day Kentucky Downs meet on Thursday and Saturday. He will return to Saratoga for their closing day card on Labor Day Monday. Ortiz currently sits in second in the Saratoga jockey standings, one win behind his brother, Irad, who will ride at Saratoga Wednesday-Friday and Kentucky Downs on Saturday.
This press release has not been edited by BloodHorse. If there are any questions please contact the organization that produced the release.
