Irad Ortiz Jr. wins five Thursday races

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. won five races Thursday at Saratoga, the second time in his career he has done that.

Ortiz, who only won four races through the first four days of the meet, won Thursday’s second on Thomas Shelby ($6.50), the fourth on Fresco ($3), the fifth on Irish Front ($9.50), the seventh on Bertranda ($6.70), and the ninth on Admiral Lynch ($16.80).

He was scheduled to ride Deputy Flag in the 10th, but that horse was scratched at the gate by the track veterinarian.

The five-win day gave Ortiz 10 wins at the meet. He is ied for second with his brother, Jose Ortiz, who did win the last on Financialstability. Joel Rosario is the leading rider with 11 victories.

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“When you have the right horses, they make you look good,” Ortiz told NYRA publicity after his fifth win. “Days like this are great. To win five races in one day at any track is so special. You work so hard in this business and on days like this all that hard work pays off.”

Ortiz won five races at Saratoga on July 31, 2019. Coincidentally, one of wins that day was in the Statue of Liberty division of the New York Stallion Series aboard Kid is Frosty. He won that same race Thursday aboard Fresco.