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Irad Ortiz Jr.
Record at Keeneland
Career Firsts
Starters in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes
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At Keeneland
During the 2023 Spring Meet, won the Madison (G1) on Goodnight Olive, the Jenny Wiley (G1) on In Italian (GB) and the Giant's Causeway (L) on Twilight Gleaming (IRE).
On opening day of the 2022 Spring Meet, won the Central Bank Ashland (G1) on Nest and the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3) on Sy Dog. Other stakes wins during the season were the Shakertown (G2) on Golden Pal and the Giant’s Causeway (L) on Campanelle (IRE).
Won three stakes on 2022 Fall Stars Saturday: the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) on Forte, the Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) on Annapolis and the Woodford (G2) Presented by FanDuel on Golden Pal
Two wins in the Juddmonte Spinster (G1): Got Lucky in 2015 and Letruska in 2021.
Won the 2021 Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) on Raging Bull (FR).
Rode first winner during the 2015 Spring Meet.
First stakes victory was the 2015 Appalachian (G3) Presented by Japan Racing Association on Lady Eli.
Career
Eclipse Awards as North America’s outstanding jockey (4): 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022
North America’s leading rider by wins from 2017-2022 and leading rider by earnings from 2018-2020 and 2022.
Triple Crown wins (2): Belmont on Creator (2016) and Mo Donegal (2022).
Breeders’ Cup wins (17): 2014 Juvenile Turf Sprint on Lady Eli; 2015 Filly and Mare Turf on Stephanie’s Kitten; 2017 Filly and Mare Sprint on Bar of Gold; 2018 Juvenile Fillies Turf on Newspaperofrecord (IRE) and Filly and Mare Sprint on Shamrock Rose; 2019 Classic on Vino Rosso, Turf on Bricks and Mortar, Dirt Mile on Spun to Run, Juvenile Turf Sprint on Four Wheel Drive: 2020 Sprint on Whitmore, Juvenile Turf Sprint on Golden Pal; and 2021 Dirt Mile on Life Is Good, Turf Sprint on Golden Pal and Juvenile Turf Sprint on Twilight Gleaming (IRE); 2022 Juvenile on Forte, Filly and Mare Sprint on Goodnight Olive and Sprint on Elite Power; 2023 Classic on White Abarrio, Sprint on Elite Power and Filly and Mare Sprint on Goodnight Olive.
North American career earnings exceed $303 million with 3,713 wins through Nov. 28, 2023.
Scored 3,000th win Feb. 24, 2022, aboard Order and Law in the fourth race at Gulfstream Park.
Win 2,000 came Sept. 15, 2018, on Gambler’s Fallacy in the sixth race at Belmont Park
Win 1,000 was Nov. 22, 2015, on Island Therapy in the fifth race at Aqueduct.
Background
Irad Ortiz Jr. and his year-younger brother and frequent riding rival, Jose Ortiz, are from Puerto Rico, where they graduated from the Escuela Vocacional Hipica jockey school. Their grandfather – also named Irad – and their uncle Ivan were jockeys.
Irad began his career in Puerto Rico and moved to New York in 2011 (a year before Jose began riding at Parx). That year, Irad won 151 races.
The next year, Irad received a significant opportunity from then-trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. For McLaughlin, he rode Questing (GB) to an allowance victory in June then captured the TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Alabama (G1) during a season that earned Questing the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old filly.
Combined the Ortiz brothers have ridden more than 6,200 winners and the earners of some $504 million through June 5, 2023.