Ortiz's Derby Predicament is Enviable

With a little more than three weeks until the 152nd edition of the Grade I Kentucky Derby, the field of up to 20 starters is starting to fall into place. That means the nation's top jockeys are busy making decisions related to the horses they want to guide to the finish line at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May. The man with the most enviable position may well be Irad Ortiz Jr.

His meteoric rise through the ranks to become America's top jockey has been nothing short of amazing. He has already accumulated over 4,500 wins with five Eclipse Awards to his credit. Better yet, he is still in the middle of his prime.

During Ortiz's career, he has shown moments of sheer brilliance in some of the biggest races in the world. That includes 21 wins in American Classics (Belmont Stakes) and Breeders' Cup races. Suffice to say, the biggest hole on his resume is a victory in the Kentucky Derby.

After nine attempts in the top U.S. race for three-year-olds, Orti is winless. It's startling that despite being on the race favorite several times, his best result is a 4th place finish in 2019 aboard the race favorite Improbable. There is a sense that the frustration is starting to mount for a man who is driven for success.

Maybe this is the year that Ortiz will get his coveted prize. It would be an understatement to say he certainly had his "pick of the litter. Here is a list of the horses from which he has had to choose:

• Commandment - victorious in four straight, including the Grade 1 Florida Derby


• Further Ado - impressive 11-length winner of the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes


• Fulleffort - winner of the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 21 at Turfway


• Renegade - Grade 1 Arkansas Derby winner and very likely the Derby favorite
  

Ultimately, he and his agent, Steve Rushing, decided to go with Renegade. This three-year-old colt is a progressive type, trained by Todd Pletcher for owners Mike Repole and Robert and Lawana Low.

When asked about being in this wonderful predicament, Ortiz told the press:

“It’s insane. What happened this year never happened to me before. It’s tough. They’re all nice.”

Agent Rushing added:

“It was an extremely tough decision. Every year, you hope you’re in that position, and then you’re in that position, and it’s just a tough call. We tried to consider everything.”

To his credit, Ortiz committed to riding Renegade in the Arkansas Derby after guiding the colt to an impressive victory in the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7. He recognized that the colt was on the rise and had more to give as the distances get longer. With the Derby being run at 1 1/4 miles, there is every chance to believe Renegade is simply coming into his own at exactly the right time.

In the next two or so weeks, it's up to Pletcher to keep his student happy. On the first Saturday in May, perhaps, it will be Ortiz's destiny to claim his first Derby.