Saratoga Springs witnessed a dramatic incident in the first race on Friday when jockey Jose Ortiz was thrown from his horse, Same Old Fears, causing chaos across the finish line. Fortunately, Ortiz managed to avoid being trampled by rolling into the drainage swale inside the safety rail. He was promptly attended to by medical personnel and taken to Albany Medical Center, where it was determined that he had bruised ribs. Despite this, his riding status remains day-to-day.
The race itself featured Same Old Fears, a promising 2-year-old filly making her debut for trainer Wesley Ward. Starting strongly on the main track due to unfavorable turf conditions, Same Old Fears was in contention for victory. However, a collision with another horse, Foxhole, derailed her chances and ultimately caused her to fall.
After reviewing the race footage, the stewards ruled that Same Old Fears had crossed the finish line with weight on her back and therefore deserved her fourth-place finish. The race ended with Billy the Greek narrowly taking first place, followed by Foxhole, Anchises, and Same Old Fears.
Following the incident, Same Old Fears was tended to and showed no signs of discomfort. Ortiz’s absence in the following races was filled by jockeys Jose Lezcano and Irad Ortiz, who both achieved victories with their respective mounts.
Irad Ortiz, Jr., Jose’s older brother, has been dominant at Saratoga, securing 14 wins in the opening week of racing. This puts him in a solid position, six wins ahead of his closest competitors.
In other news, trainer Melanie Giddings prepared Maple Leaf Mel, an undefeated filly, for the upcoming Grade I Test race. The half-mile drill went well, despite the slightly wet track conditions. Maple Leaf Mel, a New York-bred filly named after the Canadian trainer herself, is set to compete in the $500,000 event on August 5th.
Overall, Saratoga Springs experienced both triumph and turmoil on Friday, with jockeys facing highs and lows throughout the day.
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