SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer John Ortiz is trying to prove a point this summer at Saratoga.
“I’m definitely trying to prove that I belong with the elite, that’s the point we’re trying to make,” Ortiz said Monday. “We’re trying to be with the right company and put our horses with the right company, and that’s the story of success.”
With five wins from eight starters this summer at Saratoga, Ortiz and his horses are certainly proving they belong in top company. Ortiz will try to close out the meet strong with runners in three stakes during the final week.
On Wednesday, Ortiz will send out Reining Flowers in the $150,000 P.G. Johnson Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on turf. On Saturday, in back-to-back races, Ortiz has Brightwork for the Grade 3 Prioress and Quietside in the Grade 1 Spinaway, a race Ortiz won last year with Brightwork.
Reining Flowers won her maiden here July 28 in her third career start. She overcame the outside post in a 10-horse field to win by one length. Catch Can, third in that race, came back to win her maiden at Colonial Downs.
“I’m very excited about it, she came away from her win with some great confidence, bright-eyed, gained some weight after the race,” Ortiz said. “It’s good to see a horse growing and maturing right before your eyes.”
Reining Flowers will have the outside post again on Thursday in a field of nine entered for turf.
Both Brightwork and Quietside will have the outside post in 11 horse fields drawn for both the Prioress and Spinaway.
Brightwork, who has not started since her sixth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last November, was scheduled to make her seasonal debut in the Grade 1 Test Stakes here on Aug. 3, but she fell in the paddock while being saddled and was scratched.
“She was too excited for her debut that day, it wasn’t meant to be,” Ortiz said. “We’re looking forward and concentrating on the next spot. The Prioress came up nice and tough but I’m very confident in my filly.”
Ortiz said he has schooled Brightwork several times a week since the Test incident.
Luis Saez, who rode Brightwork to victory in the Debutante at Ellis Park in July 2023, will ride Brightwork and Quietside.
Quietside, a daughter of Malibu Moon, was a 6 1/4-length winner of a six-furlong maiden race on Aug. 4, earning an 80 Beyer Speed Figure.
“Very confident in this filly,” Ortiz said. “I love watching my 2-year-olds mature and grow from their last starts. She’s one that had a lot more mental growth, she actually understands what her job is. She is very strong and very professional and she has a very bright future.”
Ortiz plans to start the 2-year-old filly Bella Alessia in a two-turn maiden turf race scheduled for Sunday.
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