Jockey Jose Ortiz and trainer Rudy Rodriguez won their respective meet titles as Aqueduct concluded its spring season Sunday. Ortiz, who won the 2015-16 inner track championship, rode 37 winners of more than $2 million for the meet, edging his older brother, runner-up Irad Ortiz, Jr., by eight wins. Among his major victories at the stand, the younger Ortiz captured the GIII Bay Shore S. aboard Unified (Candy Ride {Arg}), the GIII Excelsior S. with Kid Cruz (Lemon Drop Kid) and the GIII Top Flight Invitational H. aboard Carrumba (Bernardini).
Rodriguez, who also won the 2015 Aqueduct fall main track training title in addition to topping the 2015-16 inner track meet trainer standings, saddled 14 winners from 61 starters with earnings of nearly $680,000.
Midwest Thoroughbreds was the meet's leading owner with eight winners.
Racing returns to Belmont Park Friday with the first day of the 54-day spring/summer meet.
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