Irad Ortiz Jr. to Ride Wonder Gadot in Historic Start

Trainer Mark Casse reported Aug. 20 that Saratoga Race Course's current meet-leading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. will have the mount aboard Gary Barber's Wonder Gadot in the $1.25 million Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) Aug. 25.

Ortiz was previously committed to ride Hofburg in the Mid-Summer Derby, but the Curlin Stakes winner was withdrawn from the race Aug. 19 because he spiked a fever.

"Irad is as good as they come," Casse said. "He's having an unbelievable meet and it seemed like an obvious choice."

Ortiz entered Monday's card leading all jockeys with 39 wins from 171 mounts through 27 days of racing. Ortiz won the 2015 Spa riding title and has finished second in the standings the past two years behind his brother Jose.

Wonder Gadot, an Ontario-bred daughter of Medgalia d'Oro, would be the first filly since Davona Dale in 1979 to start in the Travers. Davona Dale, named champion 3-year-old filly and later inducted in the Hall of Fame, finished fourth as the favorite that year. Seven fillies have won the Travers in its 148-year history, with the last being Lady Rotha, who was elevated to victory via disqualification in 1915.

"I'm really excited," Ortiz said. "She's a nice filly and she's been working really good. Unfortunately, Hofburg got sick, but I'm happy to have this opportunity. I'm thankful to be on her in the Travers and hopefully we can stay with her."

Wonder Gadot was the winner of the first two legs of Canada's Triple Crown over males this summer under her regular rider John Velazquez who has opted to ride Vino Rosso in the 1 1/4-mile contest.

Casse said Wonder Gadot will gallop up to Saturday's race. She returned to the track Monday for the first time since recording a bullet :47 3/5 half-mile breeze Aug. 17. He added that she schooled in the paddock Sunday and is slated to gate school on the main track Wednesday.

"She'll do something a little out of the norm, I think, on Wednesday," he said. "She's going to train early at her usual time and then we'll come back and tack her back up and walk her over to go stand in the gate. I want her to gallop early in the morning because that works for her, but the gates aren't up then, so she'll train and school that morning."

Jockey Ryan Moore will ride the Aidan O'Brien-trained Mendelssohn in the Travers. Seahenge, also trained by O'Brien, was under consideration for the Mid-Summer Derby but has been redirected to the $1 million Sword Dancer (G1T) for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/2 miles on the inner turf on Travers Day, according to the NYRA Racing Office.

Trainer Michael McCarthy said Monday morning that Axelrod, last-to-first winner of the July 14 Indiana Derby (G3), would not be making the trip to New York for the Travers, but has been entered in the Smarty Jones Stakes (G3) at Parx Racing.

McCarthy will be bringing his multiple graded stakes winning City of Light  to the Spa for the $600,000 Forego Stakes (G1) on Travers Day. The 4-year-old Quality Road  colt, who has earned just over $1 million, worked a bullet five furlongs at Del Mar Aug. 17, covering the distance in 1:00 flat to be the best of 63 at the distance.