Welcome to Kentucky Derby Prospect Profiles, where we take a look each week at a recent winner on the Road to the Derby schedule from which racehorses earn points toward qualifying for the 1 ¼-mile classic race May 2, 2026, at Churchill Downs.
With three weeks remaining in the year, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. has set a new single season record for earnings at more than $39.4 million through Dec. 7. Ortiz, Jr. eclipsed the previous mark of $39.1 million he set in 2023. With several more graded stakes on the calendar, Ortiz Jr. could hit $40 million in earnings by the end of 2025. He currently leads Flavien Prat by over $332,000 in North American earnings among all jockeys for 2025.
If you ever needed proof that horse racing can spark the same kind of arguments usually reserved for group chats during fantasy football draft season, look no further than this year’s Eclipse Award sprint divisions. Voters aren’t just choosing the best male and female sprinters. They’re choosing a philosophy. Do you reward the horse who showed up all year, stacking graded stakes wins like a wily old veteran? Or do you salute the one who saved the absolute fireworks for the biggest stage in the sport?
