Jockey Irad Ortiz's strategy pays off in Notebook and Key Cents

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - As part of a five-win Saturday at Aqueduct, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. narrowly won both stakes for New York-bred juveniles using similar stalking trips aboard horses he was riding for the first time.

In the $100,000 Notebook Stakes for males, Ortiz rallied Works for Me past pacesetting Detective Tom to win by a head.

In the $100,000 Key Cents Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, Ortiz got favored Tricky Temper past pacesetting Cara’s Time to win by a neck.

In the Notebook, the connections of Works for Me chose that six-furlong dirt race over Sunday’s $120,000 Central Park Stakes, scheduled for one mile on turf, in which he was also entered.

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In addition to Works for Me being the morning-line favorite for the Notebook, trainer Joe Lee said having Ortiz was an added benefit. Ortiz was not named to ride him on Sunday.

“Having Irad is great, it’s an asset,” Lee said.

Lee said owners Larry Doyle, Christopher Connors and Lawrence Appel ultimately made the decision to run in the Notebook in part because it meant keeping him sprinting as opposed to trying him a mile in the Central Park.

“You always want to put yourself in a good spot,” Lee said. “The owners decided today’s spot would be a better spot than waiting til tomorrow, though I still think he prefers the turf better.”

Lee was confident that Works for Me could sit off another horse and he proved his trainer correct, sitting second a length off of Detective Tom through a half-mile in 47.04 seconds. Works for Me was gradually gaining on Detective Tom, corralling him just before the wire.

“He was coming back a little quick the trainer told me, so I tried to save something for the end,” Ortiz said. “He broke sharp, I saw [Detective Tom] go, so I sat there to bide my time, wait as long as I can, and got lucky and got there in time.”

Works for Me, a son of Daddy Long Legs, covered the six furlongs in 1:12.06 and returned $4.60 as the favorite.

Detective Tom, a 15-1 shot, held second by three-quarters of a length over Aggelos the Great. Perliano finished fourth followed by Always a Warrior, Wine Responsibly, Bonne Chance and Ice the Kicker. Taporical scratched.

Tricky Temper gets up in Key Cents

In the Key Cents, Ortiz had Tricky Temper stalk the pacesetting Cara’s Time before pushing past in the shadow of the wire to win by a neck.

Tricky Temper was returning to dirt and cutting back in distance in the Key Cents. The last time Tricky Temper raced on dirt, she finished second to Jody’s Pride in the off-the-turf Matron Stakes at six furlongs. Jody’s Pride came back to run second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Katie Davis had ridden Tricky Temper in her previous two starts and trainer Jeremiah Englehart said Davis provided some useful insight as to what the filly preferred as far as surface and distance.

However, Englehart admitted that he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get Ortiz.

“I applaud Katie and her agent for understanding,” Englehart said. “You never feel great having to make a switch like that. At the same time, when he’s available he’s someone you want.”

Ortiz said Cara’s Time made a nice target for his filly.

“Jeremiah did a great job with her. He was very positive and told me she was doing really well and to ride her with confidence.”

Tricky Temper, a daughter of Into Mischief, covered the six furlongs in 1:11.74 and returned $5.90 as the favorite.

Cara’s Time finished second by 6 1/2 lengths over Unicorn Cake, also trained by Englehart. My Shea D Lady, Soloshot and Alley’s Song completed the order of finish.

Brown Suga Babe and Ashburn Alley scratched.

*** Ortiz’s three other winners on Saturday’s card were Bourbon Chase ($13), Danzigwiththestars ($7.80) and Proud Foot ($11.80). Ortiz had mounts in eight of the 10 races.

Ortiz will sit out next Friday through Sunday after dropping his appeal of a three-day suspension handed him by the Santa Anita stewards for his ride on Goodnight Olive, who won the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.

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