Jockey Jose Ortiz comes from last to pass brother Irad and win Kentucky Derby

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Jose Ortiz didn't just save his best for last to win the Kentucky Derby.

The jockey did it the hard way by literally surging back from last place.

Ortiz rallied 23-1 long shot Golden Tempo from way back to claim the 152st Derby on Saturday, beating his older brother by a neck. As expected, Irad Ortiz Jr. went over to pat his brother and congratulate him for getting the best out of a colt Jose Ortiz believed had potential.

“We always knew this horse had a lot of ability,” the younger Ortiz said. “You could see early in his career we tried things because he’s a lazy horse. I knew always Golden Tempo would be my Derby mount. This is an incredible experience. I just won the Kentucky Derby.”

Ortiz became just the ninth rider to sweep horse racing’s two marquee events at Churchill Downs. It came less than 24 hours after he guided filly Always a Runner to his first Kentucky Oaks victory on Friday night with trainer Chad Brown hoping for a Derby/Oaks double.

Instead, Ortiz made history for trainer Cherie DeVaux, who became the first woman to train a Derby winner. With their parents in attendance, he beat his older brother — also arguably one of the best riders in the world — to win.

“We got squeezed at the start,” the elder Ortiz said. "We came flying late, but the winner just got the jump on me. He ran very well.”

As DeVaux tried to grasp her own breakthrough through hugs and tears from family, she praised Ortiz for doing the near-impossible on horse racing’s biggest stage.

“Jose is the hero of the of the weekend,” she said before heading to the winner's circle. “Jose has been a major part of our success. He has worked hard. He comes to the barn. He has a vested interest in everything that we do. And it’s just great to share this with him.”

Unlike Friday's Oaks, where Ortiz had Always a Runner near the leaders before taking charge through the final turn and soaring past Meaning for a 1 1/4-length win, seizing the Derby required everything from jockey and mount.

Golden Tempo was bumped and bunched at the start and out of view for much of the race. His trip required extra ground with a wider path outside as the field turned for home, but Ortiz somehow got him near the middle entering the stretch. He found another gear to stalk Renegade and Ocelli, who also rallied from back, and edged Renegade at the wire.

“I felt like I had horse,” Ortiz said, “so I was following Irad on Renegade and I felt like we were moving along very nice. I felt like going outside on him wasn’t going to hurt me. I think he was the horse to beat.”

And the younger Ortiz is now part of an exclusive club at Churchill Downs.

He follows Brian Hernandez Jr., who rode Mystik Dan (Derby) and Thorpedo Anna (Oaks) to victory two years ago for trainer Kenny McPeek. Then again, Ortiz has been pretty charmed this weekend with five winners on Friday, including the Oaks, and five seconds in 11 mounts Saturday before capping it with the Derby.

This win, if not the weekend, will follow Ortiz for a lifetime. Considering the path followed Saturday to make it possible, he's taking nothing for granted.

“It feels great,” said Ortiz, who credited DeVaux along with Golden Tempo's owners. "Unbelievable weekend. It’s the result of all the hard work I put in for the last 15 years. I just want to be thankful. I feel blessed to be here. I’m just very thankful to all of them.”

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AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing