Irad Ortiz Jr closed out a record-breaking 2025 campaign with a return to the top of the earnings leaderboard, his sixth time in that position in the last eight years.
## What happened?
Ortiz won the Pegasus World Cup in January aboard White Abarrio and swept a trio of Breeders' Cup victories aboard Bentornato, Shisospicy, and Cy Fair.
The five-time Eclipse Award winner set a new standard with $40,497,847 in earnings from his mounts last year.
Other grade 1 winners ridden by Ortiz this season were Be Your Best, Clicquot, Mindframe, and Rhetorical.
## Why it matters for Irad Ortiz Jr
Ortiz's success at the top was year-long, with the rider leading all North American jockeys by wins for a ninth consecutive year.
The remainder of the top five riders by earnings were Flavien Prat, Jose Ortiz, Luis Saez, and John Velazquez.
## What comes next?
The biggest change in Ortiz's season came in the second half when the rider decided to move his tack to Kentucky.
Ortiz said it made more logistical sense to base himself in Kentucky moving forward throughout the spring and fall.
As the purses climbed and the Bluegrass state's racing became more lucrative, Ortiz found himself taking more trips to Kentucky.
Despite the travel spreading his wins across different tracks throughout the spring, Ortiz racked up four leading rider titles.
He also won the Bill Shoemaker Award as the Breeders' Cup's outstanding jockey and the Mike Venezia Memorial Award.
Ortiz has displayed incredible physical and mental durability throughout his career, which could not be displayed any better by his continued reign atop the win leaderboard since 2017.
To win at the top level, you have to take care of yourself and be professional every day of the week, Ortiz said.
Sometimes other people see our profession as five days a week, but it's seven days a week, Ortiz added.
Ortiz's goal for 2026 is to keep on winning, with the rider saying we always have the same mindset.
We work since day one doing the same thing, Ortiz said.
Agent Steve Rushing does his job and I do mine, and we try to win as many races as we can and stay healthy and do the right thing.
The rest, it will come, Ortiz said.
Ortiz's success is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport.
He continues to be one of the top riders in the sport, with a long list of accomplishments.
Ortiz's move to Kentucky is a strategic one, with the rider looking to take advantage of the state's lucrative purses.
The move has already paid off, with Ortiz winning several leading rider titles.
Ortiz's career is a long and successful one, with the rider continuing to add to his list of accomplishments.
He is a five-time Eclipse Award winner and has won several other awards, including the Bill Shoemaker Award.
Ortiz's success is not limited to his on-track accomplishments, with the rider also being recognized for his sportsmanship and citizenship.
He won the Mike Venezia Memorial Award, which is given to a rider who displays exemplary sportsmanship and citizenship.
Ortiz's career is one of the most successful in the sport, with the rider continuing to add to his list of accomplishments.
He is a dominant force in the sport, with a long list of wins and awards.
Ortiz's success is a result of his hard work and dedication to the sport.
He continues to be one of the top riders in the sport, with a long list of accomplishments.