Jose Ortiz enjoys five-win day at Aqueduct

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Jose Ortiz didn’t win the $125,000 Jimmy Winkfield Stakes, but he won virtually every other race he rode in run Sunday at Aqueduct.

When Ortiz guided Repent Twice from last to first in Sunday’s eighth race, it was his fifth win from seven mounts on the nine-race card. Ortiz, 22, said it was the first time he has ridden five winners on one card. On Saturday, he won four races at Aqueduct.

“Anyone would want to win five races in one day. it’s very tough; first time I did it in four years so I’m very happy right now,” said Ortiz, who did not have a mount in the nightcap.

The five wins gave Ortiz 72 for the inner track meet. He leads his brother, Irad, by six. Irad Ortiz won two races on the card. The two came into this four-day race week tied with 61 wins apiece. There are 11 racing days remaining in the meet.

“Any day he can come back and win five himself,” Jose Ortiz said of his brother. “I’m just riding with a lot of confidence, I’m riding good horses. My agent [Jim Riccio Jr.] is doing a great job.”

Ortiz won the first three races with Moondance Joy ($12.80), Voided Contract ($2.90), and Matt King Coal ($5.40). Ortiz sat out the fourth and finished last on Sudden Surprise, the 2-1 favorite, in the Winkfield. After getting run down late by Wizardly, ridden by Irad Ortiz, in the sixth, Jose Ortiz won the seventh on Slopokerodriguez ($4.50) on the lead and Repent Twice ($8.10) from last.

The win on Matt King Coal could be significant as this was that colt’s 3-year-old debut and he could be headed to the Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial next. Matt King Coal, in his first start since last Oct. 29, went gate to wire and won a first-level allowance race by a length over the late-running My Man Sam.

“He’s a nice horse, he really did good today,” Ortiz said. “I think next time he will be better.”