Sometimes you should just bet on the jockey. At Gulfstream Park, 27-year old Irad Ortiz Jr. rode three winners on Friday, four winners on Saturday and six more winners on Sunday. With 11 races on Sunday, he won more than half of them. And he won on turf, on dirt, long and short distances.
He’s pictured above with Mucho Gusto after winning the Pegasus World Cup on Mucho Gusto. The full race is below.
“I’m having a great meet so far. I’m so happy right now. I’m enjoying the moment. My agent [Jay Rushing] is doing a great job. I’m getting the best support from all the owners and trainers. They support me a lot here,” Ortiz said. “I’m so happy. My family is here with me. I’m living the dream right now.” (Paulick Report)
Ortiz won the Championship Meet title last season with 135 winners and tops the current standings with 88 winners. So forget looking at the horses’ performance. I think I’ll just bet on Ortiz.
Yes, you are right. SOmetimes you need to bet the jockey.
In 1986, the legendary Willie Shoemaker was forced to come out of retirement (to pay debts, it was said) and had been hired to ride in the Kentucky Derby. (Before his accident that put him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.) By this time he was in his late fifties, I think, and the big name owners and trainers didn’t consider him anything but a has been.
The Shoe, as they said, was done, washed up. He was put up on Ferdinand, a lightly regarded chestnut that no one really paid attention to. The field, as it was, was unremarkable, but again, Ferdinand wasn’t considered capable and went off at fairly long odds.
I won’t forget that race. “”washed up”” he may have been, but Shoemaker could still win…and he did. He weaved Ferdinand through a tightly packed bunch of horses and won the Derby.
I didn’t…and still don’t…bet…but I bet in my heart on The Shoe and he didn’t disappoint!
I’m going to have to find a video of that race!