Irad Ortiz makes return on Keeneland's Friday card

Irad Ortiz Jr., one of the world’s leading jockeys, will return Friday at Keeneland from a 55-day injury layoff.

Ortiz is named on seven horses Friday, with four mounts for major patron Brad Cox and one each for trainers Kinnon LaRose, Bill Mott, and Wesley Ward. Ortiz rides Nakatomi for Ward in the Phoenix Stakes and Monique En Vol for Cox in the Jessamine Stakes.

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Ortiz has been working horses, his agent, Steve Rushing, confirmed, and is set to ride a race for the first time since Aug. 8. Ortiz was warming up a 2-year-old named And the Runner Is before a maiden race when the colt bolted, slamming Ortiz’s leg against the outside rail. Ortiz hurt his left foot and ankle, and while X-rays came back negative, he abandoned an intended Aug. 22 comeback after working a horse the day before and deciding he was not ready to ride.

Cristian Torres also is set to resume riding races this week, his agent, Cody Autrey, said Tuesday morning. Torres hasn’t ridden since he suffered relatively minor injuries Sept. 19 at Churchill in a six-horse crash that sent three jockeys to the hospital.

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