Ortiz bids to be Kentucky king
THE US multiple champion jockey Irad Ortiz will put his trust in big-race favourite Forte to deliver him an elusive first success in the Kentucky Derby tonight.
The Eclipse awardwinning Puerto Rico native has never finished closer than fourth in six attempts on the £2.5 million prize.
He partners the outstanding candidate for Classic honours in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, trained by two-time Kentucky Derby-winning handler Todd Pletcher.
Forte has won six of his seven races and including the Florida Derby on his most recent start.
He is one of three runners trained by Pletcher, who also saddles grey Tapit Trice and Kingsbarns.
Only Brad Cox has more runners with four, of which impressive Arkansas Derby winner Angel Of Empire and Verifying, owned by the Coolmore partners, are considered strong candidates for the trainer whose horse Mandaloun was awarded the 2021 Kentucky Derby following the disqualification of Medina Spirit.
UAE Derby winner Derma Sotogake and Mandarin Hero represent Japan, with the visitors seeking to scale another international peak having broken through at the Breeders’ Cup in 2021.
The make-up of the 19-runner field has changed in the last 48 hours with two late defections and the enforced withdrawal of Lord Miles, whose trainer Saffie Joseph was issued with an indefinite suspension.
This followed the deaths of four horses, two of them trained by Joseph, since the meeting opened.
Bill Mudd, president of Churchill Downs, said: “Given the unexplained sudden deaths, we have reasonable concerns about the condition of his horses and decided to suspend him indefinitely.”
Racing TV is showng the Kentucky Derby on racingtv.com and the Racing TV App from
5pm to 12.30am.