Ortiz Jr. Returns to Saddle April 25 at Gulfstream Park

Two-time defending championship meet leading jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. is "very excited" to be back riding, named in nine of 12 races April 25 at Gulfstream Park in his return to riding for the first time in more than a month.

Three of Ortiz's calls will come for 2019-2020 Championship Meet-leading trainer Todd Pletcher, including St. Elias Stable's Dr Post in the $75,000 Unbridled Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles in race 9.

"I'm very excited to be back riding," Ortiz said. "Thank God, I have the help from all the owners and trainers. A lot of people support me here, so I appreciate that very much."

Also for Pletcher, Ortiz will ride Repole Stable's Legit, a 5-year-old son of two-time Horse of the Year and Hall of Famer Curlin , in race 8, a second-level optional claiming allowance going 1 1/16 miles; and Wertheimer and Frere's 4-year-old colt Spinoff in race 10, a third-level optional claiming allowance sprinting seven furlongs in race 11.

Other mounts for Ortiz on Saturday come on The Mighty Judge in race 4; Basquait, a 3-year-old son of 2015 Triple Crown champion American Pharoah , in Race 5; Catharsis and main-track-only entrant Malibeauty in Race 6; Shamrock in Race 7; Stock Trade, owned and trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, in race 10; and Annualized in Race 12.

He is named in seven of 11 races on April 26, including Debby Oxley's American Pharoah filly Feeling Funny trained by Mark Casse in race 8, a seven-furlong maiden special weight for 3-year-old fillies. 

Ortiz, 27, hasn't ridden since winning two races March 19 at Gulfstream, with eight racing days remaining in the Championship Meet. Those victories ended up being the difference (115-113) in capturing his second consecutive title over Luis Saez, who won 18 races in Ortiz's absence.

Also during this off period, he began a 10-day suspension issued by Saudi Arabian race officials for excessive whip use, agent Steve Rushing told BloodHorse in late March. 

The Puerto Rico native, crowned the Eclipse Award champion of 2018 and 2019 in ceremonies at Gulfstream Park, opted to stop riding out of concerns for his family amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Ortiz's wife, Meliza, is expecting the couple's third child. They have remained at their home in Hollywood, Fla. during his hiatus.

"It's been hard, to be honest, just being home. I've been home with my babies and my wife. It's hard for everyone with everything going on right now out there in the world with the virus," Ortiz said.

"But, I see that Gulfstream has done a great job and they don't have any cases," he added. "They've been doing a great job keeping everyone safe."

Ortiz remains the North American leader in 2020 purse earnings with $5,288,974, ranking third in wins (90) behind Saez (103), who has continued to ride at Gulfstream, and northern California-based Juan Hernandez (91), whose last mount came March 29 at Golden Gate Fields.

"I've just been exercising at home and trying to stay fit here so I can be ready to ride when I come back," Ortiz said. "I'm going to stay here for as long as I can until everything is cleared probably."

During the Championship Meet, Ortiz also led all riders with more than $5.8 million in purses earned and won 11 stakes led by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1) aboard Mucho Gusto. Other graded wins came in the Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2T) with Instilled Regard, Swale Stakes (G3) with Mischevious Alex, Fred Hooper Stakes (G3) with Phat Man and Marshua's River Stakes (G3T) with Magic Star.

Tyler Gaffalione leads Gulfstream's current spring-summer meet with 23 winners, one more than Saez, through April 23. They also rank 1-2, respectively, with more than $500,000 apiece in purse earnings.