Ortiz Jr. Escapes Serious Injury, Scheduled to Return Thursday

Leading jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. has been cleared to return to racing this Thursday at Kentucky Downs after escaping serious injury in Sunday’s GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga, his agent Steve Rushing confirmed Monday.

Medical tests came back negative after Ortiz Jr. was thrown from his mount Mindframe (Constitution) when the horse swerved to avoid the wayward Phileas Fogg during the prestigious race. The champion jockey was transported to Albany Medical Center following the incident but was released later Sunday evening.

“I want to thank everyone for all the calls and texts and well wishes,” Ortiz Jr. wrote on X Monday morning. “I plan on taking a few days off and return to riding on Thursday at Kentucky Downs.”

Though cleared to ride by the NYRA medical team, Ortiz Jr. opted to take additional recovery time as a precautionary measure. He had been scheduled to compete in all 11 races on Monday’s closing day card at Saratoga.

The incident occurred when Phileas Fogg veered off course during the running of the Gold Cup, causing Mindframe to take evasive action that unseated the multiple Eclipse Award-winning rider.

Ortiz Jr. remains one of North America’s most successful active jockeys, having led all U.S. riders in wins multiple times throughout his career. His return at Kentucky Downs coincides with the track’s lucrative fall meeting featuring some of the highest purses in American turf racing.