Jose Ortiz to Miss Saudi Cup Due to Fractured Wrist

In a turn of events filled with irony, an injury while riding a maiden will prevent Eclipse Award-winning jockey Jose Ortiz from riding in a $20 million race in Saudi Arabia.

Ortiz suffered a slight fracture of the right wrist Feb. 22 when he was unseated from Atone in the third race at Gulfstream Park. He will be unable to ride Juddmonte Farms' Tacitus in the Saudi Cup Feb. 29 at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

"It's very disappointing," said Jimmy Riccio Jr., agent for the 2017 Eclipse Award winner. "He'll go to a specialist either Tuesday or Wednesday, and we'll know how long he'll be out. Hopefully, it's only for a few weeks. 

"It's terrible timing to miss a chance to ride in a $20 million race on such a classy horse. It's upsetting, but I've been with Jose seven years and love the guy. I'm glad he's OK. We'll make up for it somewhere along the way."

Ortiz was also scheduled to ride Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber's Captain Scotty for trainer Peter Miller in the $1.5 million Saudi Sprint on the Saudi Cup card.

The injury occurred during the post parade for the third race, a $43,000 maiden special weight contest, when Godolphin's Atone bucked and Ortiz tried in vain to stay aboard.

"Jose pulled on the reins while trying to stay on, but he came off awkwardly and hurt his wrist," Riccio said.

Ortiz rode Atone to a sixth-place finish but then took off the rest of his Saturday mounts and had X-rays taken that revealed the fracture.

Bill Mott, who trains Tacitus, said he was working on finding a replacement for Ortiz.

"I'm putting some feelers out to see who is available," Mott said. "I should have a better line on it tomorrow."

Heading into Saturday's card, Ortiz had 1,986 wins from 10,814 mounts and earnings of $155,474,190.