Ortiz, Jr. To Miss Mounts In Virginia Oaks and Virginia Derby

[Wandering Eyes]

Injured in a spill Thursday at Gulfstream, Irad Ortiz Jr., will not ride through Sunday, reports his agent Steve Rushing.

Mike Welsch of the Daily Racing Form was the first to report that Ortiz would be out through the remainder of the weekend.

“He's just really body sore,” Rushing told the TDN via text. “He's going to take a few days off and will, hopefully, return next week.”

Ortiz was scheduled to ride in seven races Saturday at Colonial Downs, including in four stakes races. Five of his seven mounts were for Brad Cox and they included Hit Parade (Street Sense)  in the $250,000 Virginia Oaks and Confessional (Essential Quality) in the $500,000 Virginia Derby.

When reached Friday morning, Cox said he has yet to pick his replacement riders.

Ortiz was thrown Friday when his mount A Moment a Love (Kantharos) took a left turn leaving the starting gate and ran into the rail.

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