Ortiz hoping to get big week off to fast start

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer John Ortiz will attempt to open Arkansas Derby week at Oaklawn Park with a win in the Thursday feature. He’ll shoot for the big prize when he saddles Barber Road in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Arkansas Derby on Saturday.

Ortiz has Leading West in Thursday’s eighth race, a $50,000 starter allowance for 3-year-olds and up over 1 1/16 miles. The field of nine also includes another runner from the barn, Silent Disco.

Leading West finished in front of a few of his rivals last out, when he was second by a half-length at this same level and distance March 6 at Oaklawn. The horse earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 81.

“I expect to see the same effort as last time, with different results,” Ortiz said. “We want to see him in front crossing the wire this time.”

Leading West was a $20,000 claim in February. He races for Nikolas Cunningham and David Crowley.

“He’s a consistent, nice two-turn horse that we thought we could play the high-level claiming game with,” Ortiz said.

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Leading West is by Distorted Humor. His dam, Liszy’s Union, is a half-sister to a Kentucky Oaks and Apple Blossom winner in Plum Pretty.

Leading West on Thursday will break from post 7. He again will be ridden by David Cabrera, the current leading jockey at Oaklawn.

“David rode a fantastic race last time,” Ortiz said. “We expect the same scenario as last time, where Leading West sits off the pace and kind of runs them down.”

Notary, who was third in the same starter allowance Leading West exits, will break from the rail. Elvin Gonzalez has the mount on the closer for trainer Ingrid Mason.

Sol Del Sur finished fourth in the same race as Leading West. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount from post 5 for trainer Norm Casse.

Ortiz’s other runner, Silent Disco, enters off a third-place finish in a $50,000 starter allowance at this distance March 4 at Oaklawn. The race came against straight 3-year-olds, and he will be facing older rivals for the first time Thursday. Apprentice Kylee Jordan has the mount for Paul and Melita Knapper.

Ortiz is the current fourth-leading trainer at Oaklawn with 22 wins from 100 starts. He ranks third in stable earnings, with $1.9 million through Wednesday.

Cabrera leads all riders with 51 wins from 336 starters and also ranks first in mount earnings with $2.9 million through Wednesday.

Barber Road comes into the Arkansas Derby off a fast-closing third-place finish in last month’s Grade 2, $1 million Rebel at Oaklawn. He breezed for the race Sunday, going a half-mile in 49.40 seconds. Ortiz, who said it was a maintenance move with designs on keeping the horse fresh, will be bidding for his biggest career win in the Arkansas Derby.