Irad Ortiz is off Monday mounts at Saratoga after Sunday's spill

Photo: Gary Johnson / Eclipse Sportswire

Irad Ortiz Jr., who was unseated by Mindframe in Sunday's Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, is off his mounts Monday and will return Thursday at Kentucky Downs, according to an X post by the jockey.

Mindframe was squeezed from the outside shortly after the start of the 1 1/4-mile race. Phileas Fogg, ridden by Kendrick Carmouche, angled sharply inward from post 7 in the eight-horse field and started a chain reaction that led to Mindframe being knocked off balance and Ortiz trying to cling to his irons.

After he fell, Ortiz appeared to be stepped on or over by post-time favorite Sierra Leone, whose rider Flavien Prat tried to sidestep his way through. Édgard Zayas held onto White Abarrio, who also was caught in the bottleneck. After a stewards inquiry, Phileas Fogg was demoted from third place to unplaced.

Ortiz was reported by agent Steve Rushing to have escaped serious injury. All tests came back negative, and he was cleared to ride.

Antiquarian, who won the race at 13-1, was unaffected by the incident. Antiquarian and Mindframe both are trained by Todd Pletcher.

Ortiz had 11 mounts scheduled for Monday, closing day at Saratoga, including Soldier N Diplomat in the Hopeful (G2) for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Going into Monday's card, Ortiz led all riders at the Saratoga meet, with 59 wins from 286 starts. Entering Monday's card, his brother Jose Ortiz was six wins behind and was scheduled to have 10 starts Monday.

As for Mindframe, he was collared by an outrider, walked home and was in good order Monday morning. “He’s excellent, he seems fine,” Pletcher said. “We got lucky that he’s unscathed. An unlucky race, but lucky that he is OK.”

Mindframe secured a berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic with his win in the Stephen Foster (G1).

“We are just happy he came out of the race (Sunday) well. We’ll regroup and come up with a plan for him,” Pletcher said.

Antiquarian also earned a Breeders' Cup Classic berth with the win, and Pletcher said the 4-year-old Constitution colt will train up to that event.

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