There was an ESPY winner on the grounds at Saratoga Race Course July 21.
Jockey Jose Ortiz was all smiles as he talked about winning his second ESPY, which was announced July 20 by the American broadcast television network (ABC) and ESPN.
Ortiz was named Best Jockey although his award was not part of the two-hour live telecast, which was held in Los Angeles.
"It's very cool to win it," Ortiz said while making his rounds on the backstretch July 21. "Now I have two of them."
The Best Jockey ESPY began in 1994. Ortiz won his first one in 2018 and now joins Victor Espinoza (2014, 2015) and Jerry Bailey (1996, 1997) as two-time winners. Calvin Borel, who got the prize in 2007, 2009, and 2010, is the only three-time winner.
Ortiz said he believes the award is given to the rider who does well in the Triple Crown. Ortiz won the Preakness Stakes (G1) with Early Voting , was second in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) with Nest, and fourth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) with Simplification .
"I knew going in that I was going to have a good shot at it," Ortiz said of the ESPY.
He said he did not find out he had won the award until the morning after the telecast. Ortiz said he was not notified that he had won. He also said he did not watch any of the program. Early mornings at the Spa, you know.
"My mom was watching," he said with a laugh. "I said, 'Have fun. Have a good night.'"
The other jockeys who were up for the ESPY—fan voting decided the winner—were his brother, Irad, Joel Rosario, and Flavien Prat. All are based at Saratoga this summer.
