DERBY SHOCK 2025: Irad Ortiz Jr. Bets It All on ‘Underwhelming’ Contender Publisher!

Churchill Downs, May 3rd — In a twist no one saw coming, superstar jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. is entering the Kentucky Derby 2025 not aboard a proven powerhouse, but on a colt critics have labeled “mediocre at best.” The horse in question? Publisher — a three-year-old under the tutelage of famed trainer Steve Asmussen, who himself is no stranger to silencing doubters. But with a track packed full of blue-blooded talent, seasoned winners, and viral fan-favorites, Ortiz’s choice has left the racing world buzzing with disbelief, and maybe even a bit of concern.

Publisher hasn’t exactly turned heads on the prep circuit. With finishes just outside the winner’s circle in key Derby preps, many assumed he’d be passed over in favor of a flashier contender. And yet, Ortiz, one of the most dominant figures in American horse racing today, made his intentions clear early this week: he’s going all in on the colt most pundits barely mentioned in their top 10 rankings. “Sometimes the best stories don’t come from favorites — they come from faith,” Ortiz said in a pre-race interview. But is faith enough when you’re up against horses like Sandman, Baeza, and Burnham Square?

To understand why this decision is shaking the sport, you have to understand Ortiz’s stature. This is the jockey who’s racked up Eclipse Awards, Breeders’ Cup wins, and high-stakes titles coast to coast. When he makes a choice, it’s not taken lightly. For him to saddle up with Publisher is less about a fluke and more about what insiders are now calling “a gut-level gamble.” Some speculate there’s been an extraordinary turn in Publisher’s recent training sessions — a late bloomer, perhaps, that only Ortiz and Asmussen have truly seen blossom behind closed doors.

Adding to the pressure is the fact that Ortiz’s brother, Jose Ortiz, is riding Sandman — the clear-cut favorite following an electric victory at the Arkansas Derby. While fans are hyped for this dramatic sibling showdown, many believe Jose holds the upper hand with a stronger mount and cleaner racing record this season. That makes Irad’s move feel not just risky, but outright defiant. It’s no longer just about who wins — it’s a public wager of instinct versus statistics, experience versus momentum, and belief versus expectation.

Social media has exploded with debate. Some fans praise Ortiz for sticking to his convictions, calling him “the last romantic in racing.” Others, less charitably, label the decision as ego-fueled and reckless, especially in a field where one bad step costs millions. Has Irad seen something the public hasn’t? Or is he blinded by loyalty to a horse and a trainer who may have missed the Derby window by inches?

What’s certain is that all eyes will be on Publisher as the gates open. Will the colt rise to meet the moment — or crumble under the weight of expectation and media frenzy? For Irad Ortiz Jr., it’s a defining ride, not just of 2025, but of his career. If Publisher stuns the world, it’ll be remembered as one of the boldest moves in Kentucky Derby history. But if he fades early, the headlines will write themselves: “Ortiz Backs the Wrong Horse — and Pays the Price.”

In the sport of kings, gambles are inevitable. But on Derby Day, under the pressure of millions and the gaze of the racing world, one thing’s for sure — there’s no place to hide.