Ortiz, Rodriguez Take Aqueduct Spring Titles

Jockey Jose Ortiz and trainer Rudy Rodriguez wrapped up Aqueduct Racetrack's 19-day spring season April 24 with their second and third straight meet titles, respectively, while Midwest Thoroughbreds was the leading owner.

Ortiz, who also won the 2015-16 inner-track championship, rode 37 winners for earnings of more than $2 million during the meet, edging his older brother, runner-up Irad Ortiz Jr., by eight wins.

Rodriguez, who also won the 2015 Aqueduct fall main-track training title, in addition to topping the 2015-16 inner-track meet trainer standings, saddled 14 winners from 61 starters with earnings of nearly $680,000. Finishing tied for second, with 10 winners each, were David Jacobson and Danny Gargan, who was 10-2-1 from 18 starters for a win percentage of 55.56%.

Midwest Thoroughbreds had eight winners, with David Jacobson, as owner, finishing second with seven, and Michael Dubb and Mike Repole tied for third with six each.

Racing picks back up April 29, when Belmont Park opens for its 54-day spring-summer meet, highlighted by the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, featuring the 148th running of the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 11.