Barn Tour: Ortiz sees bright future for undefeated Brightwork

Last year was the best yet financially in John Ortiz’s eight years on his own as a trainer. His earnings of $5.2 million were double his prior best, in 2021. And he had a Kentucky Derby entrant in Barber Road.

At $1.9 million, his earnings this year aren’t on pace with 2022. But one thing he has that he didn’t last year is a graded-stakes win. And it came with an exciting juvenile filly, Brightwork, who is 3-for-3 after winning the Grade 3 Adirondack at Saratoga.

That’s where Ortiz was this week when he discussed Brightwork and the other talent in his stable for the latest in Horse Racing Nation’s Barn Tour series.

Brightwork. The Outwork filly broke her maiden at Keeneland in April and then won the listed Debutante Stakes at Ellis Park before her five-length score in the Adirondack. “Brightwork's doing fantastic. This filly, she was picked up at the sale as a yearling, and my dad picked her up as a 2-year-old and got her started for me. And she's been loved by everybody who's come around in her presence. She's doing fantastic. She's only getting better and better with each work, with each race. I came back this weekend, she had a final workout. She worked in company with an older horse, and she outworked him by five lengths. We're pointing towards the Spinaway (G1) coming up on Sunday at Saratoga, and I think it's her race to lose.”

Ortiz expects Brightwork to go longer. “Absolutely. The idea is, now we're going into seven furlongs, and I think the longer she goes, the better. She's just very smart, she's very tactical. She's quick out of the gate, but as she proved last time, she can rate going six furlongs. So I think that moving forward, a good trait that she has is that she's able to rate.”

Ode to Balius. Also 2, this son of American Freedom broke his maiden on second try at Ellis Park on Aug. 12 after rallying to win by a neck in a one-mile, off-the-turf race. “He's doing fantastic. He came out really well out of his last race. He broke his maiden, although we think he's better on the turf. He did win wonderfully on the dirt when it came off, but I think we're going to be pointing him towards Kentucky Downs. We're not sure, we're going to go towards the allowance or a stakes race.”

Crown Imperial. The 2-year-old Classic Empire filly won her debut and has two seconds and a third in three stakes starts since, missing a win last out by a nose in the Bolton Landing at Saratoga. “She ran really well in the (Bolton Landing), and so I was very, very happy that she was able to start on the turf and show that she can compete in such good manner against some of the best turf fillies. I think we're going to send her to Kentucky Downs" to run in the Untapable at 6 1/2 furlongs. "Tyler Gaffalione rode her, and he suggested the filly can actually stretch out a little longer. So hopefully in the future she might try two turns, but I think we're going to be pointing at the six and a half for Kentucky Downs."

Unsung Melody. The 3-year-old filly by Maclean’s Music was unraced as a 2-year-old and has a record of 6: 2-1-1 this year. “Unsung Melody, she's doing fantastic. She's pointing to run in the Prioress Stakes (G2) on Saturday. She's doing really well. She's really loving Saratoga, she's gained a lot of weight. So she's doing good. I think she's going to be a promising older filly with more time.”

Urgent Fury. The 3-year-old gelded son of Creative Cause was 0-for-2 last year, took a long break and came back July 28 to win a maiden claiming race at Saratoga. “He did really well at Saratoga. After a year lay up, he was more than well prepared going into that race. So that just made me feel great. But we're going to try to get him into starter conditions back here in Saratoga. If not, maybe Kentucky Downs as well. But I think he has a bright future.”

Barber Road. The 4-year-old Race Day colt, sixth in the 2022 Kentucky Derby, has had only an allowance win in 13 starts since November 2021, but he finished second or third in seven of those starts and six of the starts were in graded stakes. Last out, he was fourth in the Blame (G3) at Churchill Downs on June 3. “He takes the summer off for vacation, so he's getting ready to come back in this month and enjoying some just some quiet R&R. We're going to look forward to his winter campaign" at Oaklawn or Gulfstream Park.