Irad Ortiz Jr.

Career Ortiz began his professional riding career at Hipódromo Camarero in Puerto Rico on New Year's Day, 2011, winning 76 of 357 starts over the following months. In June, Pito Rosa, who works in the NYRA jockeys' room and was an old friend of Ortiz's grandfather, encouraged Ortiz to come to New York. Rosa also found an agent for Ortiz and acted as a mentor while Ortiz was settling in. Ortiz rode his first race at Belmont Park on June 17 and won his first American race on June 24 aboard Millennium Jet.

In February 2012, Ortiz "lost his bug", meaning he was no longer an apprentice and lost the weight allowance given to one. Even so, his success continued. Ortiz finished the year ranked #17 in North America by earnings.

In 2013, Ortiz won 224 races and vaulted to the #5 ranking in North America by earnings. Highlights included wins in the King's Bishop Stakes, Champagne Stakes and Carter Handicap. then won the title outright for the fall meet. For the year, Ortiz finished third in North America by earnings. Ortiz had his 1,000th North American victory on November 22, 2015, aboard Island Therapy at Aqueduct. He finished second in the North American jockey standings by earnings. He again finished second in the North American jockey standings. He earned his 2,000th career win on September 15 aboard Gambler's Fallacy at Belmont Park. He won the Shoemaker Award for outstanding jockey at the 2018 Breeders' Cup after he won two races, the Juvenile Fillies Turf with Newspaperofrecord and the Filly & Mare Sprint with Shamrock Rose, plus scoring five more top four finishes.

Ortiz experienced a slowdown in business in the fall of 2019, finishing just ninth in the Belmont meet standings. However, he had an exceptional weekend at the 2019 Breeders' Cup with four winners, including Bricks and Mortar in the $4 million Turf and Vino Rosso in the $6 million Classic. "Some riders have a good rapport with certain horses," said trainer Todd Pletcher. "Irad and Vino Rosso really gelled, you could see there was great chemistry there from the first time he got on him." He finished the year ranked first by number of wins and earnings, and received his second Eclipse Award.

On August 1, 2024, at the Saratoga's seventh turf race, the New York State Gaming Commission imposed a three NYRA racing days suspension, August 14–16, upon Ortiz Jr. It disqualified his mount On a Spree in obstructing Complete Agenda's path at the top of the stretch.

In 2025, at Tampa Bay Downs's Pasco Stakes, DRF reported that the stewards imposed a three racing days suspension, January 19, 22, and 23 upon Ortiz Jr. who was found guilty of foul riding. It disqualified his mount Owen Almighty from his one-length victory in obstructing Rookie Card's path near the three-eighths pole.

In 2026, Ortiz rode Renegade to a 2nd-place finish in the 2026 Kentucky Derby, losing out on first place to his brother José Ortiz, riding Golden Tempo.

Year-end rankings YearRank by earnings Rank by wins2011 97532012 17562013510201433201524201623201731201811201911202011202121202211