Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will return from the sidelines on opening day of the Keeneland fall meet, Friday, October 2.
Ortiz wrote in a post on his Instagram on Monday, September 28, that he suffered seven small fractures in his left foot during a pre-race incident at Saratoga on August 8. He wrote that the injury almost required surgery, which would’ve sidelined him for the rest of 2026.
“Thanks to God, my family, the doctors, and friends who were part of my recovery, today I can say that we’re back in the saddle,” Ortiz wrote (translated from Spanish). “It wasn’t easy. I had seven small fractures in my foot. When they told me surgery, I thought my year was over, but thanks again to Dr Lopez, who decided not to go that route, I’m back.”
Ortiz is named on seven mounts on October 2, including the Wesley Ward trainee Nakatomi in the G2 Phoenix and Brad Cox-trained Monique En Vol in the G2 Jessamine.
Ortiz has ridden 212 winners from 875 starts in 2026. His season highlights include G1 victories aboard Renegade, Further Ado, and Counting Stars.
Jockey Cristian Torres will also return from the sidelines on October 2 at Keeneland. Torres was involved in a six-horse spill at Churchill Downs on September 19, but did not suffer any major injuries. Torres has two mounts, highlighted by G2 Jessamine contender Mel Went Home.
