The Breeders’ Cup, to be run this Friday and Saturday, carries major weight for Puerto Rican jockey José Luis Ortiz’s bid to finish first in the United States money-earning standings. Ortiz arrives with a slim lead over French rider Flavien Prat, $38,848,561 to $38,765,210, and will have mounts in 12 of the 14 stakes races while Prat has 13.
Ortiz’s key mounts include Golden Tempo, the colt that gave him his 2026 Kentucky Derby win, plus Nitrogen (6-5 in the Distaff), Rhetorical (8-1 in the Mile), Explora (4-1 in the Filly/Mares Sprint), Kathynmarissa (5-1 in the Filly/Mares Turf), Englisman in the Sprint and Coach Pope (4-1 in the Juvenile). Seven Puerto Rican jockeys will ride in all 14 races, led by Ortiz, Hall of Famer John Velázquez and Manuel Franco of Carolina, with 41 mounts among the 158 entries, about 26% of the field.
Velázquez has 22 career Breeders’ Cup wins and could tie the injured Irad Ortiz Jr., who has 23, and close on all-time leader Mike Smith, who has 27. Irad Ortiz Jr. broke his left ankle in a fall and is out for the season. Other Puerto Rico ties: a horse named Puerto Rico, of Irish origin, is entered, and Doncho, owned by Josean López’s JAL Racing stables at Hipódromo Camarero, is third among the waiting list for the Turf Sprint.