During his 15 years in the saddle, jockey Jose Ortiz has certainly been no stranger to success.
The 32-year-old Puerto Rican rider has experienced some of American racing's biggest triumphs, winning the 2017 Belmont Stakes (G1) with Tapwrit, 2022 Preakness Stakes (G1) with Early Voting , and six races during the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Furthermore, he was honored in 2017 as the Eclipse Award winner for outstanding jockey.
However, for those watching the March 28 broadcast of the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1), they could tell the upset victory he executed aboard Winchell Thoroughbreds' Magnitude meant something extra special.
First came pure joy: an extensive celebration as he crossed the wire knowing he held off international superstar and reigning Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Forever Young. Then, once Magnitude slowed to a walk, Ortiz could be seen wiping tears from his eyes as he registered a feeling of reflection; the fact he just won the most lucrative race of his career began to settle in.
"All the sacrifices we've had to make over the last 15 years and just thinking of my family back home," Ortiz said March 31 about what was going through his head in that moment. "It's a huge win for the U.S., for my home country back home in Puerto Rico. A lot of people were watching. I got emotional, it's not easy to go out there and win. It's something that is very hard to do."
Yet the rider, who consistently ranks among the leaders in North America year after year, made victory look easy. He expertly handled Magnitude out of the gate and into the leading role. Despite Forever Young looming behind him in second, Ortiz stayed focused on his horse and the empty dirt surface in front of them.
"When I took an easy lead, I was just focusing on what was in front of me going into the first turn," Ortiz said. "I didn't really realize it was (Forever Young racing second) until the three-eighths pole. I realized when I took a peek that it was him right next to me. When I saw Forever Young there, I started nudging my horse. I knew Forever Young keeps coming, he's a very nice horse."
Magnitude proved to be a very nice horse as well. At Ortiz's urging, the 4-year-old Not This Time colt separated himself from Forever Young entering the stretch, which turned out to be an insurmountable lead.
"He ran big," Ortiz said. "To take on the best horse in the world and beat him is something huge."
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Magnitude's performance was not unexpected by Ortiz, who had ridden the colt in his two prior starts and been working with him throughout the winter at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Despite the ongoing military conflict in the Gulf region leading many to doubt the plausibility of Meydan Racecourse hosting the Dubai World Cup during the month leading into it, Magnitude's potential on one of racing's biggest stages made up Ortiz's mind about attending.
"I made the decision because I knew this horse was gonna have a big a chance to win the race," Ortiz said. "I've been with the horse all winter at Fair Grounds, and I really liked the horse. I was really optimistic he had a real shot to win the race, so I wasn't gonna miss it. I took the shot. I figured if Dubai was going to run the race, it's because they thought it was going to be safe."
Ortiz arrived in Dubai March 26, two days before the race, and said he stayed mostly in his hotel. He praised the authorities in Dubai for constant and timely alerts to his phone—in the same fashion severe weather is pushed out in the United States—on when there were possibilities of debris from shot-down drones, and when the situation had been cleared.
"Obviously, you worry a little, but the Dubai authorities were great," Ortiz said. "I didn't feel unsafe at any point. It was a good time."
Ortiz then departed not long after his victory, taking a 16-hour flight back to Chicago before taking a final hour-long flight back to his home in Kentucky, arriving Sunday night. After a few days of rest, he'll be back in the starting gate for Keeneland's opening day April 3.
As far as where victory in the Dubai World Cup rates among his list of career victories, Ortiz said: "It's on top of it for sure, No. 1."
