Ortiz Jr. Could Miss 3-4 Weeks With Knee Fracture

Irad Ortiz Jr., injured in a starting gate accident at Gulfstream Park Jan. 7, could potentially be out of action for an additional 3-4 weeks, having been diagnosed with a minor knee fracture, confirmed agent Steve Rushing. The jockey is getting a second medical opinion Jan. 12, Rushing noted. 

News of the rider's diagnosis was first reported on social media by Daily Racing Form's Marty McGee.

The three-time Eclipse Award-winning Ortiz initially took off his remaining Friday mounts and those over the weekend with the hope that he could resume riding Jan. 12. His injury occurred before the eighth race Friday when his mount, Shea On a Mission , became unruly in the starting gate. She was scratched.

Ortiz, 29, was the second leading rider by North American earnings in 2021, trailing only Joel Rosario. Ortiz ranked first by victories with 336 wins despite missing part of December while he served a 30-day suspension for careless riding issued by Aqueduct Racetrack stewards.

He resumed riding Jan. 6 at Gulfstream and won four races over two days before his injury.

Unless the rider recovers quicker than the projected timeline, Ortiz would be unavailable to ride in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) and supporting stakes at Gulfstream Jan. 29. He had been expected to ride China Horse Club and WinStar Farm's Life is Good  in a much-anticipated confrontation with Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go   in the 1 1/8-mile race.