Irad Ortiz, Jr., among the world's leading jockeys, will miss the Breeders' Cup next weekend after he broke his left ankle when unseated leaving the starting gate for the ninth race at Keeneland on Thursday.
According to Ortiz's agent Steve Rushing, Ortiz will undergo surgery and is out indefinitely, drf.com reported.
This is a big blow for the racing world as Ortiz had recently returned from being sidelined for two months when he injured his left foot during the post parade of a race at Saratoga on Aug. 8.
Ortiz, a five-time Eclipse Award winner as the nation's leading jockey, had returned on Oct. 2, opening day at Keeneland, which his hosting the 43rd Breeders' Cup on Oct. 30-31. He told the track's publicity team that he had suffered seven minor fractures in his left foot in the Aug. 8 incident.
As usual, Ortiz was hoping for a big Breeders' Cup weekend. Among the horses he was set to ride were Further Ado in the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), Rhetorical in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), Splendora in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), Built in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), Bless the Broken in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), and Salahudin in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).
The deadline for naming replacement riders on Monday, the draw of the post-position draw.
Last year, Ortiz won three Breeders' Cup races and earned the Bill Shoemaker Award as the outstanding jockey. He is ranked second among jockeys in Breeders' Cup victories with 23 – four behind Hall of Famer Mike Smith.
Ortiz was unseated Thursday when She’s Good Trouble stumbled one stride out of the gate of a race for maiden 2-year-old fillies. The horse ran around the track, was slowed down by outriders, and did not appear to be injured.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
