Irad Ortiz Jr. Wins Aqueduct Riding Title

Irad Ortiz Jr. added another riding crown to his résumé when he secured the Aqueduct Racetrack 2017 spring meet title following closing day April 23.

Linda Rice and Rudy Rodriguez both saddled 12 winners to share the training title.

There was also a four-way tie for leading owner, as Michael Dubb, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Drawing Away Stable, and Rodriguez each had four winners.

Ortiz, who won Aqueduct's inner-track title in March, took a 13-win lead into Sunday. He won aboard Bluegrass Hip Hop in the fifth race to bring his meet-leading total to 30 wins from 110 mounts for earnings of more than $1.5 million. He registered his 12th overall title on the New York Racing Association circuit.

Among Ortiz's victories during the spring meet was an impressive effort aboard Mo' Green in the Top Flight Invitational (G3) April 2. He also registered a four-win day on the meet's opening day card March 31.

SHEA: Mo' Green Flies Home in Top Flight

Rajiv Maragh finished second in the standings with 14 wins from 79 mounts. His meet was highlighted by his victory in the Wood Memorial (G2) aboard Irish War Cry. Angel Arroyo was third with 12 wins from 62 mounts.

Rice recorded her fifth meet title on the NYRA circuit, and the first since the 2012 Aqueduct spring meet, with 12 wins from 34 starters. Her trainees notched five runner-up finishes and six third-place finishes.

Rodriguez registered two wins Sunday, with Tug of War in the first and Bluegrass Hip Hop in the fifth, to pull even with Rice. Rodriguez, who earned the 2016-17 inner-track title, registered his eighth overall NYRA meet crown. As a trainer he had 12 wins from 66 starts. He also won four races from seven starts as an owner.