Much has been made of the sibling rivalry between Irad Ortiz Jr. and Jose Ortiz, the Puerto Rican brothers who have taken the racing world by storm.
While 26-year-old Irad paved the way by first graduating Escuela Vocacional Hipica and coming to the U.S. in 2011 (25-year-old Jose followed in 2012), Jose first took home the Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey last season. And the only feeling stronger than pride for his younger brother is the innate drive that subsequently propelled Irad to the best year of his career.
"I told my agent, 'I want to feel that feeling,' " Irad said Jan. 23. "He said, 'OK, let's get to work!' "
Represented by veteran Steve Rushing, Ortiz Jr. led the spring/summer meet at Belmont Park and took the title at Saratoga Race Course, where he won the Whitney Stakes (G1) aboard Diversify . Back at Belmont Sept. 15, he earned his 2,000th career win. His top victories include the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) with Shamrock Rose and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) with Newspaperofrecord , along with the Flower Bowl Stakes (G1T) aboard Fourstar Crook , the Arlington Million XXXVI Stakes (G1T) with Robert Bruce , and the Longines Just a Game Stakes (G1T) on A Raving Beauty . From 1,616 mounts, he compiled a 346-277-252 record and a personal-best $27,727,039 in purses to lead the nation in both wins and earnings.
"I worked for where I am now," he said. "I worked to be one of the best in the country, to win each race, every time."