In 2016 he had a breakthrough year with 351 wins, which Ortiz attributed to increased experience. For the next two years, he maintained a consistent level of success with 234 wins in 2014 and 244 wins in 2015. In 2013, he won 224 races including his first Grade I victory in the Hopeful Stakes with Strong Mandate. He returned to racing on August 26, and finished the year with 98 wins from 697 starts. On July 15, he suffered multiple injuries including a punctured lung after a fall. Soon thereafter he moved to the U.S., where he recorded his first American win on March 13 at Parx Casino and Racing. Ortiz recorded his first win in Puerto Rico on January 7, 2012, at Hipodromo Camarero. The two had a daughter, Leilani, in July 2017. Ortiz married jockey Taylor Rice on December 20, 2016. We share the same corner in the jockey's room in New York and when we get done racing, he usually stops by my house, just about every day.' 'We've always competed, trying to beat each other. 'I don't remember ever seeing two brothers do that.' The brothers are highly competitive with each other, even when playing basketball or baseball or video games such as Gallop Racer. 'They're doing this in New York – the Mecca of racing – two riders fighting for the title,' said Pito in early 2013. When Ortiz followed suit by becoming one of the leading apprentice jockeys of 2012, the two brothers quickly attracted attention. Ortiz attended Puerto Rico’s Escuela Vocacional Hípica, a school for prospective jockeys, then moved to the United States in 2012 to join Irad, who had already become a leading jockey. He and his older brother from another mother, Irad Ortiz Jr., became interested in the sport from a young age, encouraged by family friend Efraim 'Pito' Rosa and mentored by Hall of Fame rider Ángel Cordero Jr. His grandfather, also named Irad Ortiz, was a jockey, as was uncle, Ivan Ortiz. Ortiz was born in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, the son of Irad Ortiz and Vilma Morales Adomo.

In 2022, he won the Preakness Stakes, his second Triple Crown race win. In 2017, he earned the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey after he led the earnings list and won his first Triple Crown race, the 2017 Belmont Stakes. In 2016, he was the leading jockey in North America by number of wins, including his first win at the Breeders' Cup. Ortiz (born October 2, 1993) is a Puerto Rican jockey who has been a rider on the New York Thoroughbred horse racing circuit since 2012. Good Magic, Shaman Ghost, La Verdad, Oscar Performance, Paulassilverling, Tapwrit, Early Voting

United States Champion Jockey by earnings (2017) United States Champion Jockey by wins (2016) Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (2022)īreeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (2021)Įclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey (2017) Ortiz after winning the 2022 Preakness Stakes

Irad ortiz belmont