Ortiz Jr. Achieves 4,000 Wins
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Photo: Coady Media
Irad Ortiz Jr. celebrates his 4,000th career victory with members of the Keeneland jockey colony
It's hard to believe that 13 years ago, most people in the Thoroughbred industry would have heard the name Irad Ortiz Jr. and asked "Who?"
The 32-year-old Puerto Rican has taken American racing by storm and continues to knock down milestone after milestone. The latest occurred Oct. 13 at Keeneland as Ortiz notched his 4,000th career win.
"I just have to thank God first for keeping me in one piece," Ortiz said. "Since I got (to New York in 2011), they opened their hands for me and they support me big time every single day."
The victory in Keeneland's Sunday opener came rather easily to Ortiz, settling on the lead for the entire 1 1/16 miles aboard Mark Stanley's 2-year-old filly Good Temper for trainer William Walden. At the wire, he was comfortably 1 3/4 lengths clear in the maiden special weight.
Irad Ortiz Jr. wins his 4,000th race aboard Good Temper at Keeneland[
Returning to the winner's circle, Ortiz was greeted by the cheers of his family, friends, fans, and peers. Once dismounting from Good Temper, he took a photograph with Keeneland's jockey colony.
"It means a lot to me. I thanked all of them," Ortiz said. "We compete on the track but we are friends off the track. We respect each other a lot."
Ortiz rode the 6-year-old mare Wild Logic for his first victory at Camarero Race Track in Puerto Rico on Jan. 2, 2011, a seven-furlong sprint for $7,500 claimers. His first victory in the continental United States came four months later on May 18 aboard 3-year-old filly Grande Roja in a race for $10,000 claimers at Belmont Park.
WATCH: Irad Ortiz Jr. Accomplishes 4,000 Win Milestone
"I have to thank all those trainers and all those owners who give me the opportunities," Ortiz said. "Without them, nobody would probably know me right now, so thanks to a lot of people in New York."
Irad won 151 races that first year. In 2015, he won exactly 300 races, eclipsing that number each year since. With winner No. 256 for 2024, he will likely break that mark again with 2 1/2 months remaining.
Ortiz had a career-best year in 2023 with 366 winners and over $39 million in purse earnings. Overall, he sports a record of 4,000-3,387-2,957 from 19,754 starts for earnings of $332,872,416. His career purse earnings rank fourth all-time among North American jockeys.
A five-time Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Jockey, Ortiz has led all jockeys by wins each year since 2017 and by earnings from 2018-20 and 2022-23. He currently leads in both categories this season.
Ortiz has won 20 Breeders' Cup races, including the Classic (G1) twice with Vino Rosso in 2019 and White Abarrio in 2023 and has won two Belmont Stakes (G1) with Creator in 2016 and Mo Donegal in 2022.
"Irad is one of the best riders we've probably ever seen," said his brother and fellow jockey Jose Ortiz, who recently celebrated his 3,000th victory in June. "To ride day in and day out with him is amazing. ... Irad is special, he's got a special talent. It's amazing what he has done in the last 13 years."
With so many accomplishments already in his young career, the sky appears the limit for Ortiz. Russell Baze sits firmly atop North America's all-time wins list for jockeys with 12,842 victories. If anyone had a chance to conquer that number, it would likely be Ortiz.
"I would love to (break Baze's record), but I know it's not easy," Ortiz said. "You have to stay healthy and you have to stay in the top of the game. I have a lot of respect for him."