Ortiz Earns Jockey of the Week After Oaks Derby Double

What a week, what a year so far for jockey Jose Oritz. After five stakes wins including the premier race for 3-year-old fillies, the Gr. I Kentucky Oaks and the most coveted race in America for 3-year-olds, the Gr. I Kentucky Derby, the panel of racing experts unanimously voted Ortiz Jockey of the Week for April 27-May 3. He also won the Alysheba (G2), the Modesty (G3) and the Opening Verse Stakes. On Thursday, Ortiz won the Opening Verse Stakes, aboard 6-5 favorite Lagynos for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. The 5-year-old posted a nose win over seven rivals in 1:34.12 for one mile on the turf. On Friday, Ortiz posted five wins beginning with the third race for trainer Kenny McPeek and the fifth race for trainer Cherie DeVaux before three graded stakes wins beginning with Corporate Power for Steve Asmussen in the Alysheba Stakes (G2). Corporate Power dueled with 2026 Pegasus World Cup winner Skippylongstocking from the eighth pole to the wire with the 5-year-old Corporate Power prevailing by a neck in 1:41.82 for a mile and one-sixteenth. Ortiz's fourth win of the day came for five-time Eclipse Award trainer Chad Brown aboard Kathynmarissa in the Modesty Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares. Kathynmarissa rallied from the back of the field to run down stablemate Gezora for a 1-1/4 length win in 1:48.13 for a mile and one-eighth on the turf. Ortiz's fifth and final win of the day came in the most anticipated race, the Kentucky Oaks (GI) aboard the undefeated Always a Runner for Chad Brown. Ortiz and Always a Runner raced eighth in the field of 13 as California invader Explora led the field. On the far turn Ortiz gave Always a Runner her cue, running down Santa Anita Oaks (G2) winner Meaning to post a 1-1/4 length win in 1:48.82 for a mile and one-eighth. It was Ortiz's second win in the prestigious race and a prelude to the next day. "It's such an incredible experience to win the Oaks" said Ortiz to Churchill publicity. "It was a great day of racing and to cap it off in the Oaks was amazing." On Saturday, Ortiz had mounts all day long but the one that counted the most was aboard Golden Tempo in the Kentucky Derby (GI) as Cherie DeVaux's go-to rider. Golden Tempo, drawn wide in the field of 18, raced last until the far turn when Ortiz, going seven wide, began to pass horses. At the top of the stretch Golden Tempo had only five horses beaten but was closing fast. Golden Tempo was at least 10-wide when he hooked up at the sixteenth pole with Renegade with his brother Irad in the irons. The pair ran side-by-side with Golden Tempo taking the lead just before the wire in 2:02.27. The win was Ortiz's first in the Kentucky Derby and he is just the ninth rider to complete the Oaks/Derby double. "I knew always Golden Tempo would be my Derby mount," said Ortiz. This is an incredible experience. I just won the Kentucky Derby." The red-hot Ortiz has already had quite a year. He won the Dubai World Cup Invitational (GI) aboard Magnitude for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen in March, has won 11 graded stakes races to date and captured his second leading rider title at his winter base of Fair Grounds. Other nominees for Jockey of the Week included Tyler Gaffalione with two graded stakes wins at Churchill, Irad Ortiz, Jr. with three graded stakes wins at Churchill, Reigning Eclipse Award winner Flavien Prat with five stakes wins between Churchill and Belmont at the Big A and Hall of Famer John Velazquez with three stakes wins, two graded.