p>OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jose Ortiz, who won the Aqueduct winter-meet riding title, is off to a blazing start at the spring meet.
Through the first nine days, Ortiz had won 24 races from 66 mounts, opening up a seven-win lead on his brother Irad.
Jose Ortiz won three races Wednesday, and he won seven races last weekend. Ortiz won multiple races on seven of the first nine days of the spring meet, including a five-win afternoon April 2. It was the second five-win day of his career, his other coming March 6.
Since the spring meet was reduced to four weeks in 2006, the meet record is 29 wins, set by Ramon Dominguez in 2009.
Jockey Junior Alvarado will serve a three-day suspension for his ride on Calculator in the Grade 1 Carter. The stewards originally suspended Alvarado five days for allowing Calculator to drift out badly in the stretch, bumping with Salutos Amigos. Since Salutos Amigos won the race over Calculator, there was no need for the stewards to take any action regarding the outcome of the race.
Alvarado had the suspension reduced to three days for waiving his right of appeal. Alvarado will serve the days April 20-22.
