Bond between Rice, Ortiz creates a dynamic combination

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The training acumen of Linda Rice and the riding skills of Jose Ortiz have formed a dynamic combination on the New York circuit.

When Rice topped all trainers with 34 victories to capture Belmont Park’s spring-summer meet, Ortiz accounted for a remarkable 25 of those wins. Their combined efforts allowed Rice to ramp up pressure on defending champion Chad Brown throughout the Saratoga meet. She trailed in victories, 35-33, entering the final racing card of the meet Monday.

Perhaps it helps that they also have become family. Rice introduced Jose to her niece, Taylor, a former jockey. They are married with three children. Ortiz said he is “forever grateful” for the introduction.

Rice said of her success with Ortiz, “It certainly makes dinner with the family a happier experience.”

Their ability to click as well as they have begins almost every morning. Some big-name riders are willing to work only their finest mounts. Ortiz is there whenever and wherever Rice needs him.

He provides great insight as to a horse’s level, its race readiness or whether it would benefit from more time between starts.

“She’s very smart but she also listens to what a rider has to say,” Ortiz said. “I understand her. She understands me. Sometimes I don’t even have to say anything. She already knows what I’m thinking. It’s a great way to work.”

Ortiz’s feedback is vital because Rice enjoys her greatest success at claiming and allowance levels. She excels at placing horses where they can be most effective and not overmatching them.

“She wants you to be there for her,” Ortiz said. “In the mornings, I work for her a lot. It’s kind of fair. She puts me on a lot of horses, a lot of winners.”

While Ortiz has been her go-to rider at Belmont and Saratoga, Rice also has clicked with Jose Lezcano. “I like to use one or two guys that realize how much we’ve invested, my clients financially, my staff in hard labor, sweat equity, and our hopes and our emotions,” she said.

Rice went on, “I like to have a couple of guys that know me, trust me and know when I put a horse in a race, that horse should be competitive there and, even if it doesn’t look so on paper, they give it a really good try.”

Rice had swept the training title at four consecutive New York Racing Association meets before Saratoga. Ortiz estimated that she can be found at her barn at least 90 percent of the day.

“People don’t see the amount of work she and us as a team put together,” Ortiz said. “If you go to her barn, everything runs the right way. She has a great team she put together back there.”

Rice holds the distinction of being the first woman to win a training title at a major meet when she edged Todd Pletcher at Saratoga in 2009 even though Pletcher sent out many more runners. Soon after the start of the current meet, she said she hoped to approach the 14 wins she earned last year. She is gratified after more than doubling that.

“Racing can be a frustrating game. Anybody in the game knows that,” she said. “You can end up on the wrong side of a lot of photos and have tough trips. You have to prepare for a little disappointment if you are in horse racing. But, frankly, things have gone pretty well.”

Family dinners are very enjoyable these days. So are trips to the barn.

“The business we do together is great. But at the end of the day, she’s part of the family,” Ortiz said. “My kids love her. We love to go to the barn with the kids and see the horses, and Linda loves it also.”

Their success together means a great deal to both of them. Ortiz has saved to his phone the win photos from all 25 of his victories for Rice at Belmont’s spring-summer meet.

“For my grandchildren,” he said.