Jose Ortiz's excellent Keeneland meet continues posting a graded stakes double with the Gr. III Doubledogdare on Friday and the Gr. III Ben Ali on Saturday. The graded stakes wins led the panel of racing experts to vote Ortiz Jockey of the Week for April 14 through April 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.
On Friday, trainer Brendon Walsh gave a leg up to Ortiz on longshot Gin Gin in the Gr. III Doubledogdare for fillies and mares, four-years-old and up.
Breaking from post position five in the field of seven at odds of 38-1, Gin Gin turned out to be the easiest of winners. Gin Gin raced just off the leader and race favorite Just FYI with Junior Alvarado aboard when Just FYI was eased out of the race going into the far turn. Gin Gin was never challenged thereafter and posted a 5-1/4 length win in 1:45.15 for a mile and one sixteenth. It was the second largest margin of victory in the 30-year history of the race.
"It was a pleasant surprise," said Ortiz to Keeneland publicity. "I didn't know a thing about her, and it was the first time I had seen her. The most important thing was I had a lot of horse."
The stakes win ended a big day for Ortiz who that morning rode Quietside, trained by Brendon Walsh, in a 5-furlong work in :59 prepping for the Kentucky Oaks (GI). It was the fastest time of 15 at that distance.
On Saturday, Ortiz was aboard Tennessee Lamb for trainer George "Rusty" Arnold in the Gr. III Ben Ali for four-year-olds and up.
Tennessee Lamb broke alertly and raced just off the flank of Prince of Power. Around the first turn, Prince of Power backed out and race favorite Uno Mas Bourbon with Brian Hernandez, Jr. confronted Tennessee Lamb with Uno Mas Bourbon briefly taking the lead at the top of the stretch. Tennessee Lamb fought back to reclaim the lead at the sixteenth pole edging clear to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:59.00 for a mile and three-sixteenths.
"I wanted him to settle, and he didn't settle until he got to the backside," said Ortiz. Approaching the half-mile, he took a deep breath, and then I was very happy to feel that underneath me."
Heading into the final days of Keeneland's spring meet, Ortiz is tied for leading jockey with familiar faces, his brother Irad Ortiz, Jr. and Luis Saez each with 15 wins.
Ortiz is scheduled to ride the Mark Casse-trained Sandman in the Kentucky Derby (GI). Sandman won the Arkansas Derby (GI) in his most recent start with Ortiz aboard.
Other contenders for Jockey of the Week were Vincent Cheminaud who won the Gr. II Elkhorn at Keeneland, Antonio Fresu with a win the Gr. II Santa Maria at Santa Anita, Paco Lopez with a stakes win at Laurel and the most wins for the week with 10 and Flavien Prat who won the Gr. II Oaklawn Handicap.
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