After a frightening start to the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) that saw star jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. thrown from Mindframe and run over by Sierra Leone, 13-1 longshot Antiquarian went to win the race by 1 ½ lengths on Sunday at Saratoga Race Course.
Early reports said Ortiz experienced sore ribs and a sore wrist. He was carried off the track as the race continued and taken to a hospital for further evaluation.
Mindframe, the 4-year-old second betting choice in the field of eight, cruised around the track riderless until the far turn and was safely caught by outriders.
Antiquarian ($28 for a $2 win bet), meanwhile, stayed out of trouble early as most the field got bumped around. Phileas Fogg, with Kendrick Carmouche aboard, made a bold inside move from post 7, slammed into Contrary Thinking, who veered into White Abarrio, who bumped Mindframe, sending Ortiz onto White Abarrio’s hind end for an instant before he fell to the ground. Sierra Leone, the 6-5 favorite, was at the back of the pack, and ran over the fallen rider.
For Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who trains MIndframe and Antiquarian, and Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez (aboard Antiquarian), it’s been a quite an emotional 16 hours. On Saturday at Del Mar, Velazquez guided Pletcher-trained Fierceness to victory in the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1).
Extraordinary vision of incident re world class Mindframe and champion jockey Irad Ortiz Jnr in @TheNYRA Jockey Club Gold Cup Saratoga.
Note effort of Flavian Pratt on favorite Sierrra Leone to avoid Ortiz (runs 2nd)
Ortiz seemed ok - rib/wrist soreness. pic.twitter.com/rYJvSusjmH
Extraordinary vision of incident re world class Mindframe and champion jockey Irad Ortiz Jnr in @TheNYRA Jockey Club Gold Cup Saratoga.
Note effort of Flavian Pratt on favorite Sierrra Leone to avoid Ortiz (runs 2nd)
Ortiz seemed ok - rib/wrist soreness. pic.twitter.com/rYJvSusjmH— Bruce Clark (@snowyclark) August 31, 2025
“Obviously, it’s horrible that happened,’’ Pletcher said about the start of the Jockey Club Gold Cup. “Irad was complaining about his ribs and wrist but seems OK overall. Mindframe is fine. It’s a shame it happened. I feel a little sorry for Antiquarian because he ran a great race.”
As for Sierra Leone, the Whitney Stakes (G1) winner, he was able to stage his patented strong finish but lost too much ground at the scary start.
Chad Brown, who trains Sierra Leone and Contrary Thinking, was most concerned with Ortiz’s health. He said Prat almost pulled up Sierra Leone after the colt ran over Ortiz.
"I hope Irad is OK. That's my main concern. Our horse is the one that went over the top of him and my concern is for him,’’ Brown said. “Sierra lost his action there for a moment and you could see Flavien looking around to see what happened.
“As far as the race goes, we lost a considerable amount of ground. He had to use him to try and re-gain where he should have been and it certainly played a role in the finish. That's horse racing and it's just unfortunate on a big day -- both for my horse, for Mindframe, who was poised for a big effort; and most importantly for Irad, who we just hope can escape from this without any injuries.”
After a stewards’ inquiry, Phileas Fogg, who finished third, was disqualified and unplaced.
The 1 ¼-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In" event for the $7 million BC Classic (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
“From the start of the Pacific Classic to this -- welcome to the world of a horse trainer,’’ Pletcher said.
Mindframe, who earned a spot in the Classic by winning the “WAYI” Stephen Foster Stakes (G1), will be evaluated and could run on Sept. 27 prior to a potential start in the Classic.
Antiquarian, beaten a head by Phileas Fogg in the Suburban Stakes (G2) on July 4 at Saratoga, improved to 4-2-2-0 in 2025 for Centennial Farms. Winning time was 2:02.16 for the 1 ¼ miles over fast track. Highland Falls was third, White Abarrio fourth, followed by Disarm and Contrary Thinking.
For his part, Carmouche said: “I thought I was clear. I came over a little, but then Dylan (Davis, aboard Contrary Thinking) went more. I don’t think I had anything to do with it.”
