Stakes sweep for Ortiz as Social Paranoia scores in Dueling Grounds Derby

FRANKLIN, Kentucky – Jose Ortiz was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where he learned the jockey’s craft. Not only is all racing there conducted on flat ovals, no racetrack has a turf course.

“I had to learn to ride the turf after coming here,” Ortiz said.

At Kentucky Downs there is only a turf course, one unlike any other standard flat-racing track in North America, with a tight clubhouse turn, uphill and downhill sections, and an extended, bending homestretch. Yet Ortiz feels right at home here.

After winning four races and two stakes Saturday, Ortiz swept the two Sunday stakes, landing the $600,000 Dueling Grounds Derby aboard odds-on Social Paranoia after winning the Dueling Grounds Oaks on Princesa Carolina.

Social Paranoia ($3) went for the early lead from post 1, was outrun to the front by Temple, and sat in the pocket much of the 1 5/16-mile trip. Ortiz tipped outside to play his hand after cornering for home and Social Paranoia wore down Ry’s the Guy to win by a half-length. Temple, who was in tight late, held on for third.

“The most important thing is having the right horses,” Ortiz said.

True, but Ortiz appears to have grown very comfortable riding this course. He was leading rider during the 2018 season and is on his way to wearing that crown again this year with one card, Thursday, left in the season. This weekend alone, Ortiz won seven races, four stakes, and more than $1.3 million in purses.

“My first meet here two years ago, it was tough. The first couple horses I rode, I thought I was doing something wrong before I realized that if your horse doesn’t like this course, it doesn’t matter what the odds are, you have no chance,” Ortiz said.

Social Paranoia, shipped from New York for his Kentucky Downs debut, liked it just fine. Ortiz said his mount stayed balanced and poised through the tricky downhill section of the going that can undo a Kentucky Downs newcomer. Heavily favored because he was dropping in class from a series of salty New York stakes, Social Paranoia took care of business, posting a professional victory.

The winning time was reported as 2:08.50, which eclipsed a course record held by Princesa Carolina for about a half-hour. Both clockings were more than two seconds faster than the previous course standard, 2:10.97, set two years ago by Daddy’s Little Darling, calling into question their accuracy.

Pletcher trains Social Paranoia, a son of Street Boss and the Deputy Minister mare, Shutterbug, for Stuart Grant’s The Elkstone Group. Though he came into this race with earnings of more than $400,000 and a second-place finish in the $1.25 million Belmont Derby, Social Paranoia won for just the second time in 11 starts. He had the right guy on his back to get it done.