Ortiz Picks Up Pegasus Mount After Desormeaux Arrest
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Photo: Coady Photography
Jose Ortiz rides Stilleto Boy to victory in the 2021 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows
Longshot Stilleto Boy will be unexpectedly reunited with a former rider Jan. 29 in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by 1/ST BET (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
As first reported by Daily Racing Form's Mike Welsch, Jose Ortiz has picked up the mount on the Ed Moger Jr. trainee after Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux was arrested in Louisiana Jan. 28 for domestic abuse and battery/strangulation.
Ortiz's agent Jimmy Riccio confirmed the riding assignment to BloodHorse.
Desormeaux, who has battled alcohol use disorder and has a history of legal troubles connected to his struggles, was arrested Friday morning. He was booked by the Breaux Bridge Police Department, transported to St. Martin Parish Jail, and was bonded out Friday afternoon. His agent Tony Matos said he had not been able to reach Desormeaux, who had two other mounts Saturday at Gulfstream. Matos expected Desormeaux to be off those mounts.
The 51-year-old Louisiana native has ridden Stilleto Boy in his past five starts, including a third last time out in the Dec. 26 Runhappy Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park. Ortiz was aboard for the Shackleford gelding's last victory, a 4 1/2-length romp in the 2021 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows in his final start for trainer Doug Anderson. It was their lone out together, just days before Steve Moger purchased Stilleto Boy for $420,000 from the 2021 Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale.