Race between Ortiz brothers coming down to wire

ELMONT, N.Y. – With 16 wins over the last seven racing days, including a five-win day last Saturday, Jose Ortiz has erased a nine-win deficit and for the first time at this meet has moved atop the rider standings, 59-58, over his brother Irad.

The brothers figure to have an intriguing showdown as both will be at riding at Belmont on all four days of the meet’s final week. On Thursday and Friday, Jose Ortiz was named to ride 16 of the 19 races carded, while Irad has mounts in 15 races.

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Jose won the 2016 Belmont spring/summer riding title by 19 wins over Irad. Irad shared the 2014 Belmont riding title with Javier Castellano when Irad won the last race of the meet. In 2015, Irad finished second behind Castellano by one win.

Chad Brown will be the leading trainer for the second consecutive year. He entered the final week with 38 wins, 16 more than Todd Pletcher and Rudy Rodriguez (22 each). Linda Rice has 21.

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