Churchill Downs Update: Irad Ortiz Jr. Reflects on Renegade's Derby Near-Miss to Brother Jose

May 10, 2026

Just days after a heartbreaking runner-up finish aboard Renegade in Kentucky Derby 152, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. said the emotions of narrowly missing a Derby victory while watching his brother, Jose Ortiz, win racing’s biggest prize aboard Golden Tempo were still sinking in.

Ortiz nearly guided Renegade to a dramatic Derby victory despite trouble leaving the starting gate from the rail post but ultimately was overtaken late by his younger brother aboard Golden Tempo.

“I don’t know exactly how many lengths the trouble at the break cost us but it definitely cost me position out of there,” Ortiz said of the Derby start. “In a 20-horse race, you have to be ready for anything. We had Plan A and Plan B. From the one hole, we knew something could happen. As soon as we had that contact leaving there, my horse got behind. I just went to Plan B and let him be happy where he was and try to make one run.”

Despite the compromised beginning, Renegade rallied boldly through the stretch and briefly appeared poised to don the garland of roses before Golden Tempo surged past in the final strides.

“I honestly didn’t expect anybody to be behind me,” Ortiz said. “The way I was moving through the lane, I felt like it was going to be hard for somebody to go by me. As soon as I thought maybe I could get there, I felt somebody outside of me and I was like, ‘No way.’ Then I looked and it was Jose.

“When I watched it back, I saw he was even farther back than we were. That’s why I didn’t expect somebody to come from that far behind. My horse was responding really well. He ran a huge race.”

Ortiz said the Derby pace ultimately favored horses rallying from farther back in the field.

“The pace was honest but everybody was kind of together,” Ortiz said. “Nobody was really far in front. Horses making moves and improving position made the race tough. I think the horses from behind got the advantage. You saw the first three finishers all came from way back.”

The strong Derby performance came during Ortiz’s first full-time season riding in Kentucky after years of success primarily based in New York. Ortiz said the move to Churchill Downs had been discussed for several years before finally becoming reality.

“Honestly, we were thinking about it last year,” Ortiz said. “My agent (Steve Rushing) tried to get me to come here even a couple years before I made the move. At the time, I didn’t think it was the right moment. But finally we felt like we could come here and do good and I wish we did it sooner. Everybody here has been helping me and supporting me since Day One.”

The Ortiz brothers are likely headed toward a Derby rematch in next month’s $2 million Belmont Stakes (GI) at Saratoga, where both Golden Tempo and Renegade are expected to make their next starts.

DOWN THE STRETCH – Sunday’s 10-race card had carryovers in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot ($19,770); $1 Jackpot 8 ($12,398) and $1 Super Hi 5 ($7,960). First post was 12:45 p.m. … Preakness Stakes (GI) contender Chip Honcho finalized his preparation on Sunday for the second jewel of racing’s Triple Crown with an easy half-mile drill in :50.20 at Churchill Downs. … A total of 170 individual 2-year-olds recorded published workouts at Churchill Downs over the past seven days, compared to just 94 during the same period last year. … Following dark days Monday through Wednesday, racing will resume for Twilight Thursday with an eight-race card and first post of 5 p.m. The evening includes $2 domestic draft beer, live music by Haley Bundy and local food trucks All Thai’d Up, Burger World, Hurrikanes, Ramiro’s Cantina and Spinelli’s Pizza. … For the latest information about the Churchill Downs Spring Meet and to purchase tickets, visit www.churchilldowns.com.