Report: José Ortiz chooses Steve Rushing as new agent

HRN Staff
Photo: Eclipse Sportswire

Jockey José Ortiz has a new agent, switching from Jimmy Riccio to Steve Rushing, who also represents Jose's brother, Irad Ortiz Jr.

José told BloodHorse, "I've been thinking about this for a while. My business is not what it used to be, and I felt it was a good time to make a change."

Rushing has represented Irad since 2012. He also represented Javier Castellano until last September, when Castellano switched to P. J. Campo.

Irad is the leading rider at Saratoga's current meet with 22 wins, and José is in fourth place with 13.

José won an Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey in 2017. He won this year's Preakness aboard Early Voting and was second in the Belmont Stakes on Nest. His other Triple Crown win came in the 2017 Belmont on Tapwrit.

His five Breeders' Cup wins include two in 2021 at Del Mar: on Aloha West in the Sprint and Pizza Bianca in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

His record this year is 697: 135-128-96, with earnings of $13.6 million.

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