Two Stakes Wins Earns Ortiz Jockey of the Week

Jose Ortiz has no doubts that the decision to make Fair Grounds his winter base was the correct one. In addition to his commanding lead in the standings, Ortiz posted two stakes wins on Louisiana Derby Preview Day including the Gr. III Mineshaft for a four-win day and Jockey of the Week honors February 10 through February 16 by the panel of racing experts.

The weekly honor recognizes jockeys for significant riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys’ Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

The first of four wins on Saturday came in race six, a maiden special weight for three-year-old fillies for trainer Cherie DeVaux aboard the race favorite Ahavah. Riding again for DeVaux in race seven, a maiden special weight for three-year-olds, Ortiz visited the winner’s circle on Retribution.

Trainer Ignacio Correas IV gave a leg up to Ortiz on Nanda Dea in the Albert M. Stall Memorial Stakes for Fillies and Mares four-years-old and up. Off as the 6-5 favorite, Nanda Dea stalked the early pace in third while trapped behind the leaders. Ortiz swung the Argentinian-bred out for racing room at the eighth pole and with a determined run, nailed Join the Dance and Way to Be Marie to win by a half-length in 1:44.64 for a mile and one-sixteenth on the turf.

“She’s a multiple Group 1 winner in Argentina,” Ortiz said to Fair Grounds publicity. “We knew when she came over that she was very nice. She worked out a great trip other than I had to wait and wait and wait and then check a little bit at the 3/16th pole. I hope I didn’t make Nacho (trainer Correas) very nervous.”

Ortiz capped the day riding for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen aboard the four-year-old Hall of Fame in the Gr. III Mineshaft for four-year-olds and up. Off as the favorite at 8-5 in the field of eight, Hall of Fame raced in third tracking the leaders Maycocks Bay and Komorebino Omoide. In mid-stretch, Ortiz angled Hall of Fame away from the inside and wore down Komorebino Omoide in the stretch to prevail by a head in 1:42.89 for the mile and one-sixteenth.

“He broke great and put me in a great position down the backside,” said Ortiz. “Steve (Asmussen) and his team did a really good job with him, and it really showed with him having to battle down the lane after a slow pace early.”

Ortiz was a mainstay on the NYRA circuit for more than a decade winning three rider titles (2016, 2020 and 2021) and the 2017 Eclipse Award as Outstanding Jockey while also riding at Gulfstream Park’s Championship meet. He moved his tack and family in spring 2024 to Kentucky to ride at Churchill and winter at Fair Grounds.

Other nominees for Jockey of the Week included Juan Hernandez who won the Sunland Park Derby, Alfredo Juarez, Jr. who won the Sunland Park Oaks, Paco Lopez who won the most races with 11, and Irad Ortiz, Jr. with two stakes wins at Fair Grounds.

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