Breeders' Cup Classic: Jockey Ortiz takes long detour for final work with Journalism
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DEL MAR, Calif. - It is only 69 miles between Keeneland and Churchill Downs in Kentucky. Jose Ortiz, who rode at Keeneland on Saturday and was to ride at Churchill Downs on Sunday afternoon, took a pretty significant detour.
Ortiz flew from Lexington to San Diego on Saturday night, and early Sunday morning at Del Mar he climbed aboard Journalism to put his recently acquired Breeders’ Cup Classic mount through his final workout prior to Saturday’s $7 million race.
Shortly after 6:30 a.m. Pacific time, Ortiz guided Journalism through a five-furlong work in 1:01.88, per Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch. Journalism, who went in company with Legitimate, a 3-year-old who won his maiden by 12 3/4 lengths in January but hasn’t raced since, got his final quarter in 24.18 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.31, seven furlongs in 1:27.34 and pulled up a mile in 1:41.91.
“He’s a very straightforward horse, very classy and the work was beautiful … just the way he did it was amazing, he did it the right way,” Ortiz said by phone from the private plane he was on that was taking him back to Louisville. “I’m very happy with him.”
Trainer Michael McCarthy and the owners chose to replace regular rider Umberto Rispoli - who rode Journalism to Grade 1 victories in the Preakness, Haskell and Santa Anita Derby - following the colt’s second-place finish in the Pacific Classic on Aug. 30 at Del Mar.
Ortiz felt it was important to get familiar with Journalism before the Classic.
“There’s a lot at stake, it’s a huge race, we feel a little more comfortable getting to know him a little bit,” Ortiz said. “Very straightforward, very nice horse.”
Ortiz was on a plane before 7:30 a.m. Pacific to fly back to Kentucky, where he was named on seven horses on the Churchill card, including The Grumpy Rabbit in the Rags to Riches Stakes and Universe in the Street Sense Stakes.
McCarthy wouldn’t get into specifics about why the rider change was made, but Journalism was a bit farther back in the Haskell and Pacific Classic than perhaps was desired.
“Hopefully, we’ll go ahead and bounce on out of there and find ourselves in a nice tactical spot,” McCarthy said.
Speaking of Ortiz, McCarthy said, “Jose’s having a phenomenal year. You could argue if he has a bang-up Breeders’ Cup that he could be right there in the thick of it for an Eclipse Award this year. Big race rider, we’ve had success together in the past.”
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