Gulfstream Park: Irad Ortiz Jr. wins 5, including 2 stakes
Cugino provided jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. with his fifth winner as well as a stakes sweep on Saturday’s program at Gulfstream Park, surging through the stretch to capture the $140,000 Tropical Park Derby.
Three races earlier on the 11-race program, Ortiz guided See You Around to victory in the $140,000 Tropical Park Oaks, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
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“It feels great just to have the opportunity to ride these kinds of horses, nice horses like today and all week. I like to ride any horses, claiming horses, I don’t really care. I’m just happy to ride,” said Ortiz, who is seeking his third-straight Gulfstream championship-meet title and his sixth overall. “The trainers and owners give me the right opportunities and support me big time. I just thank God to keep me healthy and be able to keep doing what I love.”
Cugino ($5.40), owned by West Point Throughbreds and Jimmy Cahig, needed a perfectly executed ride from Ortiz to prevail by a neck over late-rallying, 40-1 outsider Full Nelson in the Tropical Park Derby, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds.
“He got him in position on the first turn. I liked the way he was able to wait, and when the hole opened, he really kicked,” Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said.
Cugino broke cleanly from post 10 in the 12-horse event before Ortiz deftly dropped the son of Twirling Candy to the rail in sixth. He was behind pacesetting Fidelightcayut, who was stalked to his outside by Silent Heart, the even-money favorite. Fidelightcayut set solid fractions of 22.51 and 46.73 seconds and continued to lead on the far turn.
Édgar Pérez asked Silent Heart for his run on the turn into the homestretch, and the Brian Lynch trainee responded to take the lead at the top of the stretch. Ortiz bided his time, waiting for a hole to open. Silent Heart appeared on his way to victory when that gap finally opened for Cugino in mid-stretch. Ortiz swung off the rail, and he surged through the late yards to eke out a victory while holding Full Nelson safe.
“I wanted to get a good position going into the first turn, and I went for it without thinking twice. I used him a little bit to get position, and that’s all I wanted to do. I was worried about the post position more than anything. I know I was on the right horse,” Ortiz said. “Going into the first turn I used him a little more than I wanted to, but I ended up in a beautiful spot, and after that everything worked out beautiful. I turned for home, and it opened up, and I was able to get clear without a problem, and he gave me a good kick down the lane.”
Cugino ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:39.32 over firm turf. Full Nelson finished a neck ahead of Silent Heart.
Ortiz also won Saturday against allowance company on Julee’s Legacy, in a maiden race on Vassimo and in a claiming race on Swan Lake. He finished the day on a four-race winning streak.