Velazquez, Ortiz come up for mounts in Stymie

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Sunday’s $125,000 Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct features a game of jockey musical chairs that includes the return to New York – at least for one day – of John Velazquez and Jose Ortiz.

Velazquez, who hasn’t ridden in New York since Dec. 2, will be here to pilot Send It In for Todd Pletcher in the Stymie. Manny Franco has ridden Send It In to victory in six of his last eight starts but is committed to ride Sunny Ridge, on whom he won the Jazil Stakes in January.

Ortiz, who left New York in early February to ride at Gulfstream, is back to ride the undefeated Diversify, whom he guided to wins in his first three starts, all against New York-breds. Irad Ortiz Jr. was on Diversify for a win against open company on Jan. 14. Irad Ortiz Jr. is committed to ride Royal Posse in the Stymie.

Royal Posse will try to end a quirky 0-for-7 career drought over the inner track. He has finished second on three occasions over the inner track. Last time, in the Jazil, he stumbled badly at the start and was virtually eliminated. He ended up finishing fourth, 15 lengths behind Sunny Ridge.

“I’m not going to [blame] the track,” said Rudy Rodriguez, the trainer of Royal Posse. “If he gets beat, he gets beat. He needs to break through, and maybe Sunday’s the day. There’s going to be enough speed, and he can put himself in a good position.”

The Stymie is run at 1 1/8 miles around two turns. Royal Posse has won six of his last eight starts in 1 1/8-mile races around two turns. Overall, Royal Posse is 9 for 12 at 1 1/8 miles.

The Stymie field, from the rail out, is: Sunny Ridge, Admiral Blue, Royal Posse, Doyouknowsomething, Send It In, Dolphus, Turco Bravo, Diversify, Splashtastic, and Grasshoppin.