Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Tripoli in Breeders' Cup Classic, Sadler says
ARCADIA, Calif. - Tripoli, winner of the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar in August, will be ridden for the first time by Irad Ortiz Jr. in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 6, trainer John Sadler said Sunday.
Tiago Pereira rode Tripoli for five starts from early May to earlier this month. Pereira was aboard Tripoli in the Pacific Classic when the 4-year-old colt won by 1 1/2 lengths.
Owned by Hronis Racing, Tripoli was fourth of eight in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on Oct. 2 after a wide trip, his last start before the BC Classic at 1 1/4 miles.
“The final prep didn’t go the way we wanted it to,” Sadler said. “But he’s been good. He’s been fine.”
On Sunday, Tripoli worked five furlongs in 1:01 in an early morning workout.
Sadler timed Tripoli in 1:00.80, with a six-furlong gallop-out in 1:12.80. A seven-furlong time for the gallop-out was not recorded.
“It was too dark,” Sadler said.
Tripoli earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Classic with the win in the Pacific Classic. Otherwise, Hronis Racing would have to pay a $75,000 pre-entry fee on Oct. 25 and a $75,000 entry fee on Nov. 1.
“We’re not putting up $150,000,” Sadler said.
Ortiz ranks second in the nation in earnings with $23.2 million this year through Sunday, trailing only Joel Rosario's $25.4 million. A big Breeders’ Cup weekend for either rider could significantly change the standings.
Ortiz, 29, won the Eclipse Award as the outstanding jockey from 2018 through 2020. He won two Breeders’ Cup races in 2018 and 2020 and four in 2019.
Ortiz became available when Dr. Post and Happy Saver, Todd Pletcher trainees whom he could have ridden, were removed from consideration for the Classic.
Also at Santa Anita on Sunday, Max Player, winner of the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga on Sept. 4, worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 for the BC Classic.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Max Player has been based at Santa Anita since late September. Sunday’s workout was the fourth for Max Player in California.
Sadler worked two other Breeders’ Cup prospects over the weekend. Flagstaff, bound for the BC Sprint, worked a half-mile in 47.60 seconds on Friday, while Edgeway worked five furlongs in a 1:00 on Sunday for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint.
Edgeway had the fastest of 46 works at the distance. Sadler timed Edgeway in 59.80 seconds, with a gallop-out time of 1:13 for six furlongs.
Edgeway is part of a Filly and Mare Sprint field led by Gamine, who won the 2020 running and was the champion female sprinter last year.
“I don’t think we’ll beat Gamine,” Sadler said. “No one can beat Gamine, but I think we can be second, absolutely.”