The stars of the show were undoubtedly the equine superstars, but the Triple Crown best jockeys also had a say in the horse racing odds that were established for the big race. You can learn more about the Triple Crown’s best jockeys from 2022.
Sonny Leon
The star of the Triple Crown season came in the form of Rich Strike. The ride of Sonny Leon was the surprise 81/1 winner of the Kentucky Derby in May.
He was the second-biggest outsider to ever win the famous race, as he finished three-quarters of a length clear of heavy favorite Epicenter.
The victory was the first Grade 1 success for Leon and trainer Eric Reed, as the three-year-old finished extremely strong down the rail to claim victory in the most dramatic of fashions. It was a ride of a lifetime for Leon and certainly put his name on the map.
Career-Best Season For Leon
There is little doubt that this has been a career-best season for Leon this term. He has won more prize money this term than in any previous season, as he has picked up more than $4.5 million. He has claimed 114 victories and has finished second on 118 occasions.
No victory was bigger than the Kentucky Derby, but one of the Triple Crown best jockeys was unable to add further success to his name later in the season, as Rich Strike finished way back in the Belmont Stakes.
The three-year-old also finished sixth in the G1 Travers Stakes, where Epicenter gained revenge for his Churchill Downs defeat.
Jose Ortiz
One of the other Triple Crown best jockeys came in the form of Jose Ortiz, who claimed victory in the Preakness Stakes on board Early Voting.
The three-year-old equine star bypassed the Kentucky Derby, which meant that there was pressure on Ortiz to deliver an excellent ride at Pimlico. The jockey did just that at the end of May, as Early Voting finished over a length clear of Epicenter.
He was the fresher horse in the final stages, and that ensured that Ortiz was able to drive the star clear of the field in fine fashion. Despite edging left in the final stages, there was little doubt that he was the star of the show.
Little Success For Ortiz
It has been a relatively disappointing year for Ortiz this year, as he has currently won less in terms of prize money than he did in the previous season.
In total, he has won $16.9 million this term, which includes 159 victories, 149 seconds, and 120 thirds. However, Early Voting remains his biggest victory of the season.
Ortiz has won other big Grade 1s this term, which includes victories in the G1 Jenny Wiley with Regal Glory and Jack Christopher’s success in the G1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial. Other big victories have come on board Letruska, Obligatory, and Simplification.
Irad Ortiz
The final Triple Crown race of the season was won by Mo Donegal. It was an excellent performance by Ortiz at Belmont Park, as Mo Donegal claimed victory in the Belmont Stakes by a commanding distance of three lengths from stablemate Nest.
The three-year-old was the clear favorite for the race before the start, and he stretched clear of his contenders down the straight to claim victory by the most dominant margin in the Triple Crown races this season.
Leading Jockey
There have been fewer more successful jockeys this season than Irad Ortiz. He has recently been crowned the top jockey for the Saratoga meet, and he looks set to be named champion jockey over the final months of the season, as he is clear of the other contenders in the standings.
The jockey has won 236 races this season, which has seen him pick up more than $24.8 million in prize money.
Ortiz has been the man for the big occasion throughout the season, as he has claimed Grade 1 success in a number of massive races.
That includes victories in the G1 Ashland with Nest, the G1 Belmont Oaks with McKulick, and the G1 Pegasus World Cup with Life is Good.
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