He was feeling good, he was running relaxed and going the right way, so I just didn't mess with him, I let him do his thing and keep going. I let him go into the first turn and then I just used my judgment. after the gates open, everything changes. “Honestly, I know my horse is fast, but I never thought I was going to be on the lead by three or four lengths,” Ortiz said when asked if he was surprised by how easily Life Is Good outran presumptive Horse of the Year Knicks Go ( Paynter) in the Pegasus. Tuesday, the sometimes polarizing rider sat down with the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland as the Green Group Guest of the Week to discuss his success, his suspension, his rise to the top of the game and whether or not he pays attention to either the positive or negative attention he receives from racing fans. aboard emergent superstar Life Is Good (Into Mischief). on back-to-back winner Colonel Liam ( Liam's Map) and Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. Upon his return, the 29-year-old picked up where he left off at Gulfstream, piloting winners left and right and over the weekend, added two more seven-figure Grade I wins to his trophy collection with victories in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. Shortly after scoring a hat trick of victories at the Breeders' Cup, Ortiz was suspended 30 days for careless riding at Aqueduct. “She’s one of the favorite horses I’ve had all time.It was an eventful few months for three-time Eclipse champion jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. The Maryland Jockey Club caught up with assistant trainer and exercise rider Jose Vargas to talk about the “talented, tough, tall” 5-year-old mare trained by Michael Stidham. Newtown Anner Stud and Mark Breen’s Saguaro Row, second in the Go for Wand (G2) and a winner of two of her last three starts, is the 9-5 favorite in Saturday’s Runhappy Fritchie. “I’ve never rode him before but he’s doing great, working good, so, hopefully, we’ll get it done,” he said. Ortiz is also looking forward to riding Dreams Untold, a John Servis-trained son of Smarty Jones who broke his maiden Jan.4 by 14 ¼ lengths Seven furlongs is in between, so I think he’ll be fine.” “He’s done a mile before and won and he’s won at six furlongs, so he can do either one. Ortiz has been aboard him in nine of his last 11 starts. Winner of the Champagne (G1) at 2 and the Dwyer (G3) at 3, Firenze Fire is 4-5 in the morning line. A winner of $1.6 million and nine of 23 starts, the Jason Servis-trained 5-year-old ended his 2019 campaign with wins in listed stakes at Aqueduct and Penn National after finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). When asked about riding at Laurel, Ortiz said, “If you have the horse you’ll be alright.”įirenze Fire could be the horse in the seven-furlong General George. Ortiz has ridden only 15 times at Laurel, with one win, four seconds and three thirds, according to Equibase. That afternoon Ortiz finished second in the Miracle Wood, seventh in the Fritchie and second to Imperial Hint in the General George aboard Stallwalkin’ Dude. Ortiz’s last trip to Laurel was also on Fritchie-General George Day in 2017. Campbell with favorite and graded-stakes winner Monongahela, owned by Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables LLC and Gary Aisquith. Amore Stable’s Grade 1 winner Firenze Fire, Someday Farm’s promising 3-year-old Dreams Untold in the Miracle Wood, and in the $100,000 John B. Ortiz, named the country’s Eclipse champion in 20, will ride in five races, including the General George aboard Mt. first race post, will include the $250,000 Runhappy Barbara Fritchie (G3), $250,000 General George (G3) and three other stakes including the $100,000 Miracle Wood for 3-year-old colts and geldings But Ortiz, currently the leading rider at Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet, will ride Saturday’s stakes-laden card. In fact, it’s been three years since the two-time Eclipse Award winning rider has visited Laurel. LAUREL, MD – Irad Ortiz Jr., the country’s leading rider, doesn’t make many trips to Laurel Park. Video: Vargas Talks “Talented, Tough” Saguaro Row
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