Driver Jose Ortiz celebrated a career milestone on June 9 when he won his 3,000th career race Save the orphan tree in the third race at Churchill Downs.
Settling the pace early in the six-furlong warm-up, Ortiz charged five horses wide entering the stretch, but the 3-year-old filly Conservationists Gelding thrives in open spaces. Save the Trees quickly overtook his opponents and opened up a 2 ¾ margin victory.
Ortiz returned to the winner’s circle amid the cheers of family, friends and fellow racers.
“I’m very happy,” Ortiz said. “Having been through so many races, so many people have helped me along the way. I’m so grateful.”
Save the Trees wins the starting allowance race at Churchill Downs, giving jockey Jose Ortiz his 3,000th career win
Ortiz’s riding career began with success in 2012, winning 98 races from 697 starts. Since then, Ortiz has won at least 200 races per year in all but one season since 2013, including a career-high 351 winners in 2016 — leading all jockeys in North America. Horses ridden by Ortiz have won nearly $250 million.
Among Ortiz’s many accomplishments is a win in the 2022 Preakness Stakes (G1) aboard Vote early and the 2017 Belmont Stakes (G1) on board Handwriting . Ortiz won the Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey in 2017. He has won five Breeders’ Cup races and a total of 232 graded stakes, including 60 Grade 1 wins.
Ortiz usually drives in New York, but this year he moved to Kentucky for the spring meet at Churchill Downs.
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