Jose Ortiz headed to Gulfstream for rest of championship meet

Jose Ortiz will be moving his tack to Gulfstream Park following this weekend, his agent, Jim Riccio Jr., said Thursday.

Through the first 18 days of racing this winter at Aqueduct, Ortiz has ridden 13 winners from 73 mounts. He rode last week in Saudi Arabia, booting home two winners and was back at Aqueduct on Thursday. He will ride at Aqueduct through Sunday and begin riding at Gulfstream on Wednesday.

“No major reason,” Riccio said when asked why the change in plans. “We feel like we can ride more there.”

On Jan. 29, Ortiz is expected to ride Sacred Life in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf and Regal Glory in the $500,000 Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf, Riccio Jr. said. Both horses are trained by Chad Brown.

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Ortiz will be back at Aqueduct to ride Early Voting for Brown in the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes on Feb. 5. He is scheduled to ride the undefeated 3-year-old Make It Big in the Grade 3, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes on Feb. 12 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Riccio said Ortiz would likely be back at Aqueduct following the conclusion of the Gulfstream championship meet on April 3.