Ortiz has another live mount with Fair Point in Franklin County Stakes
LEXINGTON, Ky. – It didn’t take Jose Ortiz long to make a favorable impression on local fans who might have been unfamiliar with his work.
Ortiz rode three winners on opening day of the fall meet Oct. 7 to immediately establish himself as a factor in the Keeneland jockey colony. Normally based in New York, the 22-year-old native of Puerto Rico has continued to pick up live mounts, and that trend will continue Friday, when Ortiz climbs aboard Fair Point for the Grade 3, $100,000 Franklin County Stakes at Keeneland.
Ortiz has ridden Fair Point in every one of the 4-year-old filly’s 12 starts, including a hard-fought victory in her latest Aug. 28, the Smart N Fancy at Saratoga. Trained by Shug McGaughey, the ultra-consistent Fair Point will be among the favorites in a highly competitive renewal of the Franklin County, a 5 1/2-furlong turf race that anchors a 10-race card.
Miss Ella, beaten just a head in the Smart N Fancy, also figures as a major threat among an oversubscribed field of fillies and mares in this 20th running of the Franklin County, which is graded for the first time. Late Spring, Mississippi Delta, Everything Lovely, and Full Tap also will take solid play in what shapes up as a real handicapping jumble.
In all, 18 were entered, but only as many as 12 can start. Four horses are on an also-eligible list, and two more were excluded.
Ortiz, who ranks in the top three among North American jockeys in 2016 in wins and mount earnings, will ride here daily through Oct. 21 (except Sunday, when at Woodbine) before returning home to Belmont Park, according to agent Jimmy Riccio.
First post Friday is 1:05 p.m. Eastern. An outstanding card also includes four allowances (races 5 through 8), two maiden special weight races (races 3 and 10), and the first one-mile dirt race of the meet (race 4).
KEY CONTENDERS
Fair Point, by Smart Strike
Last 3 Beyers: 94-85-87
◗ Third or better in all but one of her career starts for owner Stuart Janney III, this handy filly may have found her niche in these one-turn turf races.
Miss Ella, by Exchange Rate
Last 3 Beyers: 93-93-84
◗ Winner of the Grade 2 Beaumont over dirt at the 2015 spring meet, she has made a smooth transition into these turf-sprint ranks for Graham Motion.
Everything Lovely, by Pollard’s Vision
Last 3 Beyers: 93-93-83
◗ The last two years have established this Philadelphia-based filly as a threat whenever big filly-and-mare turf sprints are held on the East Coast.
Mississippi Delta, by Giant’s Causeway
Last 3 Beyers: 64-93-92
◗ Oddly spotted last Saturday in the Grade 1 First Lady, this filly was soundly defeated and now wheels right back for Mark Casse.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Mississippi Delta. Trainer Mark Casse is 4-0-0-2 over the past five years with horses returning within seven days of their previous start. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Late Spring, by Speightstown
Last 3 Beyers: 78-93-77
◗ Late-running homebred demonstrated a fondness for the local course with a victory in a contentious allowance at the spring meet.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 12 Full Tap. Trainer Michael Stidham is 11-3-1-1 with a $5.94 ROI over the past five years in turf sprints at Keeneland. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
