Jose Ortiz Eyes Historic Travers Stakes Win Aboard Golden Tempo

Jockey Jose Ortiz is poised to conclude a standout summer at Saratoga Race Course with a potential historic performance in Saturday’s Travers Stakes. Currently the meet’s leading rider, Ortiz will partner with Golden Tempo, the morning-line favorite for the $1.25 million race. A victory would not only secure his first win in the “Midsummer Derby” but also propel him closer to the track’s all-time single-season wins record.

Ortiz has previously finished second in the Travers Stakes on two occasions, riding Moreno in 2013 and Tacitus in 2019. He aims to reverse that trend this weekend while continuing his successful partnership with the Cherie DeVaux-trained colt. The duo has already captured two legs of this year’s Triple Crown, most recently taking the Belmont Stakes by 1 ¼ lengths in June. Ortiz expressed confidence following the colt’s final tune-up, a four-furlong workout in 49.66 seconds.

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Entering Friday, Ortiz sat just four wins shy of the single-season record of 68, set by Ramon Dominguez in 2012. With mounts scheduled in all 14 races on Saturday, including favorites in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial and the Lake Placid, the jockey has a significant opportunity to break the record. Ortiz noted that he would prefer to achieve the milestone within the standard 40-day meet schedule to avoid any qualifications regarding the record.

The Travers Stakes serves as the centerpiece of a stakes-heavy card, featuring six graded races. Golden Tempo has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite.

What to watch

• Outcome of the Travers Stakes and Golden Tempo’s performance.
• Whether Jose Ortiz breaks the single-season wins record at Saratoga.
• Total handle and attendance figures for the Travers Day card.

Source: original release