Chelsea Durand Photo

Jose Ortiz bags five-win day Friday at the Big A

by NYRA Press Office

Jose Ortiz extended his domination of the fall meet jockey standings Friday afternoon Aqueduct Racetrack, riding five winners from seven mounts on the day's live racing program.

Ortiz started off the day with a natural hat trick, picking up victories with Battle Midway ($26.80), a main track only entrant in Race 1; Perina's Pride ($5.30), a four-length, first time out winner in Race 2; and Even Thunder ($7.40) in Race 3, the $100,000 King's Swan for 2-year-old sprinters.

The 23-year-old journeyman found himself back in the winner's circle two races later with the main track-entered James Lane ($4.50), a 3-year-old maiden special weight winner in Race 5. Ortiz closed out his winning day with Don Dulce ($5.00) in Race 7. In addition to his wins, Ortiz finished a respective third and fourth in Races 4 and 6.

This is the fourth time the Puerto Rican native has recorded a five-win day, all in 2016. Ortiz also piloted five winners at the Big A on March 6 and April 2 and at Saratoga Race Course on September 3.

"I'll take it any day," said Ortiz, who tops the jockey standings at the Aqueduct fall meet with 34 wins, and also currently leads all North American jockeys in wins with 332 in 2016. "I tried to tie the record at six wins, but I'm very happy. I had a good day and finished healthy. It's all about the horses. I had a good card and they showed up, so I was OK. That's horse racing."