'It's amazing' - Irad Ortiz sets record stakes wins in a season at Aqueduct

Jockey Irad Ortiz landed a record 77th stakes win in a single season in North America when he guided Dr B to an easy victory in the Go for Wand Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday evening.

The win, which surpassed the record of 76 set in 2007 by late Hall of Fame jockey Garrett Gomez, was never in doubt for Ortiz and Dr B.

The pair broke well and had the race sewn up in a matter of strides as they never looked back, powering to a four and a quarter-length victory.

"This is great, an amazing feeling," said Ortiz, who won the Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey from 2018-20. "It's amazing just to be a part of the story. Gomez did it in 2007 and he was a great rider, one of the best in the game.

"I love this sport. Thanks to everyone who has supported me: trainers, owners, and my agent Steve Rushing.

Ortiz enjoyed Belmont Stakes success on Mo Donegal (blue cap) this yearCredit: Sarah Stier (Getty Images)

A remarkable year for the 30-year-old jockey has featured a Classic victory on Mo Donegal in the Belmont Stakes. He also won three Grade 1s at the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland last month.

Ortiz, who has led all North American riders in wins since 2017, had banked nearly $36 million heading into Saturday's action – already surpassing his own single-season earnings record of $34,109,019 set in 2019.

"This [record] is something that I didn't even know until a week before the Breeders' Cup," Ortiz added.

"I never try to pay too much attention. I just ride and try to keep winning, and whatever happens at the end of the year, we'll see how it goes. Thank God the last couple of years have been great."

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