Irad Ortiz notches turf stakes double in Cutler Bay, Sanibel Island

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Irad Ortiz widened his lead in the tight race for the Gulfstream Park Championship meet jockey title and showed off his versatility in the process when sweeping the two 3-year-old turf stakes on Saturday’s Florida Derby undercard with Seismic Wave and Trenchtown Cat.

Ortiz rallied Seismic Wave from the rear of the field to a neck decision over Forever Mo in the $125,000 Cutler Bay Stakes. Thirty minutes later, Ortiz put the lightly raced Trenchtown Cat on the lead and nursed her to a well-deserved, neck decision over Vow to Recover in the $125,000 Sanibel Island for 3-year-old fillies.

Seismic Wave trailed for the opening six furlongs of the one mile Cutler Bay, split rivals commencing his bid into the stretch, angled toward the inside to continue his rally at midstretch then outfinished Forever Mo. The latter angled outside horses in early stretch, held a short edge on the winner near the sixteenth pole, but could not match strides at the end.

Art G. is Back finished third, a neck in front of the even-money favorite Marquee Prince.

Seismic Wave, a Juddmonte homebred by Tapit, posted his second consecutive victory for trainer Bill Mott and returned $6.40 after completing a mile in 1:34.49 over a firm inner course.

"We’ve always liked him,” said Mott. “We knew he’d be a little green the first couple of times, but he seems like he’s learning now. He’s not blessed with a lot of early speed from the gate, but I thought he’d be a little closer. The horse that opened up five, I couldn’t see it on paper. [Ortiz] let him get where he was in his stride and comfortable and made a huge run. Horses don’t usually make up that much ground here.”

Mott said he’d likely point Seismic Wave for the New York Turf Trinity that begins with the Belmont Derby on July 6.

Trenchtown Cat had made only two previous starts and had never run beyond five furlongs coming into the one-mile Sanibel Island. But Ortiz was able to harness her speed on the front end and shake off an early challenge from Seranitsa before holding safe a late bid from Vow to Recover. Belle Laura, the 7-5 favorite, was never a serious factor, finishing last in a scratch-reduced field of only six starters.

A Bit Special, who would have been the odds-on favorite in the Sanibel Island, was scratched earlier in the day due to inflammation in both front legs according to trainer Patrick Biancone.

Trenchtown Cat, a 3-year-old daughter of Discreet Cat, is trained by Rohan Crichton for the partnership of Dennis Smith, George DeBenedicty, and Span Investments Inc. She completed the distance in 1:36.11 over the outer course and paid $12.20.