Meet Irad Ortiz Jr., the Jockey Riding Publisher in the 2025 Kentucky Derby
The 150th running of the Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Churchill Downs in Louisville. As anticipation builds, attention turns to top riders like Irad Ortiz Jr., who will be aboard the colt Publisher.
Despite an illustrious career, Ortiz is still seeking his first top-three finish in the Kentucky Derby. Since Javier Castellano’s win on Mage in 2023, Ortiz has held the unofficial title of the most accomplished jockey yet to win the iconic race.
Born in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, the 32-year-old has dominated American horse racing for over a decade. Ortiz has claimed five Eclipse Awards for North America’s Outstanding Jockey (2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023). He’s led all jockeys in total victories for eight consecutive years and has consistently ranked at the top in yearly earnings — finishing either first or second over the past six years.
Ortiz’s resume includes 20 Breeders’ Cup wins, with two victories in the prestigious Classic division — in 2019 on Vino Rosso and in 2023 on White Abarrio. He also rode Forte to a notable win in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland.
Yet the Kentucky Derby has been elusive. In eight prior attempts, Ortiz has cracked the top 10 four times but has never finished better than fourth — a result he earned on Improbable in 2019. His most recent Derby rides ended in 18th place (Cyclone Mischief, 2023) and 13th (Domestic Product, 2024).
This year, Ortiz teams up for the first time with Publisher, who is trained by Steve Asmussen. A long shot at 20-1 on the morning line, Publisher has placed in competitive races but hasn’t found the winner’s circle in seven career starts. Despite this, Ortiz sees potential.
“I’ve reviewed all his previous races,” Ortiz told FanDuel Racing. “He’s shown heart in some tough matchups. I believe he has what it takes to handle the Derby’s mile-and-a-quarter distance.”
Ortiz at a Glance:
- Derby History: Best finish is fourth (2019); four top-10 finishes out of eight tries.
- Triple Crown Record: Two Belmont Stakes wins (2016, Creator; 2022, Mo Donegal), with additional runner-up finishes in the Preakness and Belmont.
- Breeders’ Cup Success: 20 wins, including two Classics.
- Career Stats (as of May 1): 510 races in 2025 with 105 wins (21% win rate), earning over $9.5 million; career totals include 4,176 wins in 20,573 races and nearly $348 million in earnings.
- Awards: Five-time Eclipse Award winner as top North American jockey.
- Personal Note: Older brother of fellow elite jockey Jose Ortiz.
