When Irad Ortiz Jr. walked away from Del Mar on Saturday evening, there was a quiet smile on his face — not just the satisfaction of a winning weekend, but the weight of history pressing gently on his shoulders. The 31-year-old Puerto Rican ace had just claimed his sixth Bill Shoemaker Award, once again proving why his name has become synonymous with Breeders’ Cup brilliance.
“It’s a great trophy and it’s a great honor,” Ortiz Jr. said with a grin that betrayed both pride and relief. “You’ve got to have a good day because it’s by points. You win some, and the rest of the horses have to run good to keep getting points — that means you had a good weekend. I love this week. It’s one of my favorite weekends of the year.”
For Ortiz, the 42nd Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar was a familiar stage — two days of high-class racing, where the best horses in the world meet under the California sun. By the end of it, Ortiz had notched three victories across the marquee races, sealing the Shoemaker Award for the 23rd time in Breeders’ Cup history.
A Weekend to Remember
Ortiz kicked off his campaign with Cy Fair’s dazzling victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1), setting the tone for what was to come. On Saturday, he followed up with a breathtaking double — steering Shisospicy to victory in the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) before guiding Bentornato home in the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).
Each win carried its own rhythm, but together they composed a weekend symphony that spoke of calm under pressure, impeccable timing, and a knack for being in the right place at the right moment.
The only other rider to win multiple Breeders’ Cup races this year was Flavien Prat, last year’s Shoemaker Award recipient, who took the PNC Bank Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) aboard Splendora and the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) with Nysos.
Chasing Legends
For Ortiz, every new Shoemaker Award brings him closer to another legend — Mike Smith, who holds the record for the most Breeders’ Cup wins.
“That’d be great,” Ortiz admitted when asked about closing in on Smith’s tally. “I have so much respect for Mike. He’s got like 27…I mean, it’s really hard to get to that number, but we’re going to keep working on it. You’ve got to have good horses, honestly. I’m just very fortunate. We’ve been having a good ride, and we’re going to stay positive and keep working on it.”
Named after the Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker, who rode more than 8,800 winners including four Kentucky Derby triumphs, the award honors excellence and consistency over the Breeders’ Cup’s 14 Championship races. The tie-breaker system — awarding points for second through fourth place — ensures the winner reflects not just brilliance but reliability under the most intense scrutiny.
History of the Shoemaker Award
Since its inception in 2003, the Shoemaker Award has become a mark of greatness in its own right. From Alex Solis and John Velazquez to Mike Smith and Ryan Moore, its roll of honor reads like a who’s who of modern racing.
With his 2025 victory, Irad Ortiz Jr. now stands as one of the most decorated jockeys in the award’s history — six-time winner, master tactician, and Breeders’ Cup constant.
As the sun set over Del Mar, the cheers of the crowd faded, but the echoes of Ortiz’s weekend — and his quiet pursuit of Smith’s record — lingered. In a sport defined by fractions of seconds, his consistency has stretched across years.
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