Irad Ortiz Jr has won his first Churchill Downs riding title with 46 wins through the 26-day Fall Meet.
What happened?
Ortiz, a 33-year-old native of Puerto Rico, shifted his tack from New York to Kentucky and quickly made a mark on the circuit.
He secured notable wins, including Further Ado in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and Alpine Princess in the Falls City Stakes.
Why it matters for Irad Ortiz Jr
Ortiz' success is a testament to his skill and adaptability, with his brother Jose Ortiz finishing second in the standings with 37 wins.
Irad Ortiz Jr won five races twice during the Fall Meet, on Nov. 12 and Saturday's Stars of Tomorrow II card.
What comes next?
Racing on the Kentucky circuit will shift to Turfway Park in Florence on Dec. 3, with the Holiday Meet and Winter/Spring Meet scheduled to run until March 28.
Ortiz will look to build on his success, with the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby set for May 2.
Brad Cox, who teamed with Ortiz to win 18 of his 22 races, became the eighth all-time leading trainer at Churchill Downs with 501 wins.
Ortiz expressed gratitude for the support of owners and trainers, saying "It's been very successful since moving to Kentucky."
He rode for several new owners and trainers, including a successful partnership with Cox.
Ortiz' wins included On Time Girl in the Fern Creek Stakes and Life of Joy in the Rags to Riches Stakes.
Cox notched his 10th Churchill Downs title with 21 wins, marking his first Fall Meet training title since 2017.
Godolphin was the leading owner at Churchill Downs for the fifth time, with seven wins, including Bella Ballerina in the Golden Rod Stakes.