We know he can do it.'įorte doesn't remind Ortiz of any horse he's ever been around. 'It gives you an extra confidence, I think. In his seven career starts, all with Ortiz as jockey, he boasts six victories. Things have worked out with Forte so far, though. Doing that in the Derby? It doesn't work out that way.' 'Sometimes you're in a position you don't want to be, and maybe you hesitate - like you pull your horse out early just to hold your spot or something. … If you have the horse, you can get there,' he said. It's eluded him to this point in six Derby starts, his best finish is fourth (Improbable, 2019).
From the time he became a jockey, Ortiz said, he's dreamed of etching his name into Derby lore.
