Ortiz Thinks Samraat Can Do Anything
Though a New York-bred hasn't won the state's signature race in 132 years, Samraat has recent history in his favor heading into Saturday's Belmont Stakes. Since 2000, seven horses have run in the Kentucky Derby, skipped the Preakness and passed the "Test of the Champion," including last year's winner, Palace Malice.
A homebred of Leonard Riggio's My Meadowview Farm, Samraat will also have the comfort of familiar rider Jose Ortiz on his back. The 20-year-old native of Puerto Rico has been aboard the Noble Causeway colt in each of his seven career starts.
"He has all kinds of confidence that he can do anything he wants on him, and he's a very responsive horse," trainer Rick Violette said. "He's a rider's dream, because you can move a couple times and go into neutral. They're a good match. He rode a terrific race in the Derby, no question. We're very confident we'll get a good trip."
Samraat has not raced since finishing a creditable fifth in the Derby, beaten a nose for fourth by Wicked Strong after running near the early pace. Violette, who was third in the Belmont with Citadeed in 1995 and 10th with High Finance in 2006, opted to skip the Preakness and point for the Belmont.
It will be the Belmont debut for Ortiz, who entered today's card third in the local jockey standings with 21 wins - just four behind leader Javier Castellano - and fourth with more than $1.3 million in purses.
Of modern-day jockeys, 12 have won in their Belmont debut including Hall of Famers Braulio Baeza (1961), Steve Cauthen (1978), Bill Hartack (1960), Craig Perret (1987) and Bill Shoemaker (1957). The most recent to do it was Jose Valdivia with Ruler On Ice in 2011.
Cauthen's victory came with Affirmed, the 11th and last horse to sweep racing's Triple Crown, an exclusive club California Chrome is looking to join on Saturday.
"There's a lot of good horses in the race. It's not going to be an easy race for California Chrome," Ortiz said. "We've got a good chance. I like my horse. He always tries, and he has a big heart. I know he can do it."
Ortiz has seen a steady progression in Samraat, who opened his career with five straight wins including the Grade 3 Withers and Grade 3 Gotham before finishing second in the Grade 1 TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial on April 5 prior to his Derby effort.
"He has matured every race, a little more each time," Ortiz said. "In the Derby, he got a beautiful trip. He got a lot out of that race, hopefully. He's been relaxing pretty good. He's going to have to relax going a mile and a half. If he breaks good, he'll be OK. I think he can win."