They have dominated the New York jockey colony this year, finishing, 1-2 in the Belmont 2016 spring meet and 1-2 in Aqueduct’s winter and spring meets. 5, widely regarded as the toughest in the U.S., when they finished 1-2 in the jockey standings. The true test of their skills and success perhaps came with the conclusion of the 2016 Saratoga meet Sept.

Modest to a fault, both jockeys have retained their courteous demeanor with trainers, owners and stable staff while becoming two of the most sought-after jockeys in the talent-laden New York colony. Overall, they are both in the world top 30. jockeys’ standings (based on Graded stakes performances over the past three years) in the TRC Global Rankings - Jose is 6th and Irad 9th, with Irad particularly successful on turf (he comes in at third among jockeys in American turf races). 4-5 Breeders’ Cup begins to take final shape, all of that is likely to change – the number of races in which they’ll be on the backs of some of America’s best Thoroughbreds reflecting a breathtaking, meteoric rise to the top in five years for Irad, 24, and four years for his 23-year-old sibling, Jose.īarring late scratches or withdrawals, to date they are each in line for at least six mounts out of the 12 total races, and their agents are working on more.īoth are high in the top U.S. and Jose Ortiz have totaled 24 Breeders’ Cup mounts, and there’s not much to brag about with a combined record of just 2-2-1 for the lot of them. Since they arrived on the New York racing scene a few years ago, jockeys Irad Jr.

The Ortiz brothers, Jose (left) and Irad Jr: “We always talk about horse racing, we handicap together but, on the track, it’s all business,” says Irad.

Irad ortiz suspended