Irad Ortiz Jr. Ties for Jockey of the Week in Triple Dead Heat

Irad Ortiz Jr. has tied for Jockey of the Week honors after another dominant stretch at Churchill Downs, sharing the rare triple dead heat with Jeiron Barbosa and Juan J. Hernandez for the period of June 15-21.

What happened?

Ortiz Jr. rode 12 winners last week, including a thrilling Grade 2 victory in the Chicago Stakes aboard Eclatant for trainer Brad Cox. The 7-furlong race saw Eclatant chase down Foie Gras in the final strides, crossing the wire in 1:22.62. Ortiz Jr. called it a breakthrough moment for the filly, who he said had improved significantly this year.

Why it matters for Irad Ortiz Jr

This latest accolade keeps Ortiz Jr. on pace for his second leading rider title at Churchill Downs this season. His 12 wins last week alone underscore his dominance at the track, where he’s closing in on his fifth consecutive leading rider title. The streak also keeps him in pursuit of his eighth overall title at Saratoga, which opens July 3.

The race that sealed the deal

Eclatant, sent off as the odds-on favorite, needed every inch of the Churchill stretch to edge Foie Gras. Ortiz Jr. admitted the filly waited too long for racing room but dug in hard once clear. The win marked another Grade 2 triumph for Cox, who’s been a two-time Eclipse Award winner.

What comes next?

Ortiz Jr. will ride all week at Churchill as the Spring/Summer meet winds down. Then it’s off to Saratoga for the summer meet, where he’ll chase history. His rivals-including Paco Lopez, Jose Ortiz, and Flavien Prat-also had strong weeks, but Ortiz Jr. stole the spotlight with his sheer volume of wins.