Jockey Jose Ortiz, who topped all North American jockeys in the wins category with 351 in 2016, will ride at Gulfstream full time for the final month of their Championship meet, which ends Apr. 2.
“It's great for a young guy like me to be in this position right now and show that I can do it,” Ortiz said. “In the month of March I'm coming down to ride, and I'm looking forward to coming here to ride again next winter. I think it's the right time for me to try. I think this year I should have come, but I was getting married and I'm having a baby so I wanted to stay home one more year.”
Ortiz had a big Saturday in Hallandale last weekend, winning the GIII La Prevoyante S. aboard Suffused (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and a maiden special weight with impressive Shug McGaughey pupil Snap Decision (Hard Spun); as well as finishing second in the $12 million GI Pegasus World Cup with Shaman Ghost (Ghostzapper). After Gulfstream, the Eclipse finalist plans to ride the spring and fall meets at both Keeneland and Belmont and will defend his title at Saratoga.
“I'm flying all over the place and doing great,” Ortiz remarked. “I'm just thankful to God for keeping me healthy and thankful for the opportunity and my family. Everything is going great. It's exciting. Everything is going in the right direction right now.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
