Irad Ortiz Jr., a five-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey and North America’s leading rider since 2017, has relocated his tack from New York to Kentucky for the fall season, joining the Churchill Downs riding colony alongside his brother Jose Ortiz. Ortiz Jr. has already made a strong start, winning two races on his first day at Churchill Downs and is currently second in North America in purse earnings for the year. His move adds significant star power to the Kentucky racing scene.

Saturday’s stakes card at Churchill Downs features several key races, including the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Locust Grove (Grade II), where Alpine Princess aims for her first graded stakes win with Ortiz Jr. aboard. Trainer Greg Compton will also compete with two promising horses, Nothing Personal in the Iroquois (Grade III) and Embrace the Moment in the Pocahontas (Grade III), both races serving as early qualifiers for the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. Churchill Downs continues to offer a vibrant racing schedule with special events like College Day and ongoing media coverage through ESPN Louisville.