Aqueduct
With brother Irad away, Jose Ortiz takes over lead in jockey race
Barbara D. Livingston Jose Ortiz plans to join the Churchill Downs jockey colony when the meet begins May 16.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jose Ortiz took advantage of his brother Irad’s absence last week to ride 10 winners, including five on Sunday, and vault to the top of the Aqueduct standings in the abbreviated 11-day meet. Jose leads Irad, 16-12, heading into the final four days of the spring session.
Both riders will be here to complete the meet.
“You want to win every meet that you can, but Irad wasn’t here this week and I’m sure he’ll come back and be competitive next week,” Jose Ortiz told NYRA publicity following his fifth win Sunday.
Chad Brown leads trainer Todd Pletcher, 7-6, heading into the last week.
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