Ortiz Jr. Named Jockey of the Week

Irad Ortiz, Jr.'s travel schedule included Finger Lakes on Monday for a win in the New York Derby then back to his base of Saratoga where on Friday he won the Shuvee (G2). A day trip to Monmouth Park on Saturday yielded a win in the Matchmaker (G3) returning to Saratoga on Sunday for the win in the Honorable Miss (G2) ending the week with a total of 10 wins. The panel of racing experts voted Ortiz Jockey of the Week July 14-July 20.

The weekly honor recognizes jockeys for significant riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

At Finger Lakes on Monday, trainer Rob Atras gave a leg up to Ortiz aboard Train the Trainer in the New York Derby, one of the richest races at the Farmington, New York track. Off as the overwhelming favorite Train the Trainer broke on top and drew off to win by four lengths in 1:44.66 for a mile and one-sixteenth.

On Wednesday at Saratoga, Ortiz won two races and two on Thursday's card.

On Friday, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher gave a leg up to Ortiz aboard Leslie's Rose in the Shuvee (G2) for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up. Off at odds of 4-1, the 4-year-old Leslie's Rose raced in third on the rail while Dazzling Move led the seven-horse field. Turning for home, Leslie's Rose began her run, drawing clear to win by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:50.77 for a mile and one-eighth. Ortiz then added a win in Race 10.

Ortiz commuted to Monmouth Park on Saturday for Haskell Day at the Jersey Shore posting a win in the WinStar Matchmaker (G3) piloting 4-year-old Segesta for Hall of Fame trainer Chad Brown. Ortiz gave Segesta her que at the top of stretch for a neck win in 1:49.17 for the mile and one-eighth turf test.

Back at Saratoga for Sunday's card, Ortiz won the third race before a 24-1 upset win in the Honorable Miss (G2) aboard Halina's Forte for trainer Phil Bauer. Halina's Forte rallied along the rail running down the pacesetter R Disaster for a half-length win in 1:09.87 for six furlongs.

Ortiz currently sits atop the Saratoga standings with 17 wins, his brother Jose is in close pursuit with 15.

Ortiz will ride at Saratoga through Sunday. On Saturday, Ortiz has a mount in every race on the 12-race card including piloting Hill Road for Chad Brown in the Jim Dandy (G2).

Other contenders for Jockey of the Week were Hector I. Berrios who won two stakes including the San Clemente (G2) opening weekend at Del Mar, Edwin Gonzalez who celebrated his 2,000th career win riding at Gulfstream Park, Paco Lopez with two graded stakes wins at Saratoga and Umberto Rispoli with a dramatic come-from-behind victory aboard Journalism in the Haskell Invitational (G1).