Oh, lucky day! With just 13 days left on the countdown to the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby there is still so much to consider when choosing a favorite. With a field of 20 contenders it is still best to wait for the post position draw on Tuesday to make any hasty decisions. It is a good time to think about all 40 athletes that will face off on 5/5/18. The Thoroughbreds always capture my attention and imagination but what thought do I give the jockeys? Having spent time in and around Keeneland’s jockey quarters this spring meet I have paid more attention to their influence. In this story, I want to focus on two jockeys that will compete in the upcoming KY Derby, the brothers Ortiz.
The Ortiz brothers are Jose Ortiz and Irad Ortiz, Jr. Just over a year apart and still in their 20’s, the two brothers are making quite a name for themselves in the Thoroughbred racing industry. The Ortiz’s started their lives and racing careers in Puerto Rico. They were born to a family with experienced jockeys in the blood line. The brothers started racing at an early age and moved to New York in 2011 and 2012. The rest has been a beautiful history rich with wins and awards.
Irad is the oldest of the two. He has had over 10 thousand career starts and earnings over $120 million dollars. He is a multiple graded stakes winner. Irad won the prestigious Belmont Stakes as recently as 2016, with Creator. He has won a Breeders’ Cup race three times; the Juvenile Fillies Turf with Lady Eli in 2014, the Filly and Mare Turf in 2015 with Stephanie’s Kitten and the Filly and Mare Sprint in 2017 with Bar of Gold. Last year he was ranked North American 1st by wins and 3rd in earnings! In the month leading up to the KY Derby, Jose, Jr. has been working multiple races, tracks and dates at Aqueduct, Keeneland, Charles Town and has plenty of rides lined up at Belmont and perhaps other locations. I witnessed his winner’s circle presentation with Pacific Wind at Keeneland earlier this month. I was hoping he would stay with Free Drop Billy, who finished third in the Blue Grass Stakes and is 16th on the leaderboard. Today, Irad had his 131st win of the year with over $6 million dollars in earnings to date. He may very well be on his way to top jockey again. Ortiz, Jr. has not won the Kentucky Derby yet, he had 2 former opportunities in 2014 and 2016 where he finished, just like the years, 14th and 16th respectively with Uncle Sigh and My Man Sam. He has another chance this year. Let’s hope he finishes better than 18th in 2018. Irad’s KY Derby horse this year is Hofburg!
Hofburg is a chesnut, KY bred colt sired by Tapit, his dam is Soothing Touch. Hofburg has raced 3 times. He took on his first maiden race at Saratoga in September. In Hofburg’s next start, in March, he broke his maiden at Gulfstream and then came back just weeks later, at that same track, to finish second in the Grade I Florida Derby. Hofburg is ranked 18th on the KY Derby leaderboard with 40 points.
Jose, at 24 years old, is the youngest. He doesn’t have to hide in the shadow of his brother as he is equally amazing as a jockey. With over 8 thousand career starts and more than $105 million dollars in earnings, Jose is doing just fine. This brother earned himself an Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey last year. He is a multiple graded stakes winner too. He won the Belmont Stakes in 2017 with Tapwrit, after a 6th place finish with the same pairing in the KY Derby. He has won 2 Breeders’ Cup races; the Juvenile Turf in 2016 with Oscar Performance and the Sentient Jet BC Juvenile in 2017 with Good Magic. In 2017 Jose was ranked the number one jockey in North America by earnings. He was first in wins in 2016. He has been very busy with 473 starts so far this year and already over $6 million dollars in earnings. Jose had already won 22 races and 1 stakes race at Keeneland prior to the current meet. He is in tough competition to try for the title at my home track this meet. In the KY Derby he has raced with Samraat, Upstart and Tapwrit. Jose has yet to win the KY Derby. This year he will have a promising chance. He is aboard Good Magic!
Good Magic is also a chestnut, KY bred, sired by Curlin. His dam is Glinda the Good. Good Magic has had 5 career starts. He started at Saratoga, his next race was the Grade I Champagne Stakes at Belmont where he finished second. He broke his maiden winning the GI Sentient Jet BC Juvenile at Del Mar. He followed that up with a third place finish in the GII Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream. I watched him win the GII Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland earlier this month. Good Magic is second on the leaderboard with 134 points.
I admire the Ortiz brothers for their quick climb to the top of North American Thoroughbred racing. They are always smiling, polite and their reputations are outstanding. I pray for their safety and their continued success. I look forward to seeing them race and I am thrilled that they are both competing in the KY Derby this year. Which brother will win it or are you pulling for another horse or jockey? Check back frequently for more KY Oaks and KY Derby posts as the races are rapidly approaching now.
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