Irad Ortiz Jr. transported to hospital after Belmont spill

ELMONT, N.Y. – Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. was taken to a Long Island hospital after he was unseated by his mount, Equal Pay, in Thursday’s fifth race at Belmont Park.

Equal Pay, a first-time starter by Quality Road trained by Chad Brown, had just taken command of the 6 1/2-furlong maiden race when she propped at the three-sixteenths pole and catapulted Ortiz out of the saddle. After landing hard on the dirt course, it appeared Ortiz was clipped in the upper body by Brook’s Edge, ridden by Junior Alvarado.

Ortiz was put on a backboard and then a stretcher and placed in an ambulance and taken to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset. According to the New York Racing Association, Ortiz was talking and moving his extremities.

Both Jose Ortiz, Irad’s brother, and Alvarado got off their horses and quickly ran up the track to see Ortiz.

Irad Ortiz Jr., the reigning three-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey, leads the nation this year in wins (185) and purse money won ($11.6 million). Ortiz had won the first two races on Thursday’s card.

Ortiz is named on several top mounts on Saturday’s Belmont Stakes card, including Search Results in the Acorn, Colonel Liam in the Manhattan, Mischevious Alex in the Metropolitan Handicap, and Known Agenda in the Belmont Stakes.