“I Don’t Need Dettori or Ortiz to Shine”: Kendrick Carmouche’s Explosive Saratoga Statement Sends Shockwaves Through Racing World

The 2025 Saratoga Festival had already been buzzing with anticipation, but no one expected Kendrick Carmouche to become the center of attention with a statement that sent tremors through the sport. After his emphatic wire-to-wire victory aboard Phileas Fogg in the Grade II Suburban Stakes, Carmouche didn’t just celebrate a career-defining ride—he delivered a line that lit social media on fire: “I didn’t come here to play the media game. I don’t need Frankie Dettori or Irad Ortiz beside me to get attention. I came to Saratoga to win.”

For fans and insiders alike, it was a jaw-dropping moment. Carmouche, a respected figure on the East Coast racing circuit, had never been known for bold, controversial remarks. But this time, he made it personal—and intentional. The timing couldn’t have been more dramatic. Dettori, the sport’s global superstar, is notably absent from the Saratoga meet this summer, and Irad Ortiz Jr., a dominant force in New York racing, has been sharing the spotlight with rising stars like Flavien Prat and Jose Ortiz.

What makes Carmouche’s comment so powerful isn’t just who he named—it’s who he didn’t. By excluding the most media-friendly jockeys in the business, he made it clear that his focus is on performance, not personality. His Suburban Stakes ride proved his point. From the break, he pushed Phileas Fogg into the lead and never let go, holding off a furious late charge from John Velazquez with calculated poise and unshakable composure. The result wasn’t a fluke—it was a message.

Some call it confidence. Others are calling it arrogance. But no one can deny the results. Carmouche’s victory wasn’t just another tick in the win column—it was the first time in years that a jockey outside the usual “star system” seized the Saratoga headlines without the help of a Hall of Fame trainer or a million-dollar mount. And that’s exactly what he wanted.

Backstage whispers at Saratoga say this version of Carmouche has been brewing for a while. Long considered a grinder, he’s grown weary of watching media darlings dominate the conversation while putting in the same hours, taking the same risks, and often getting overlooked. His recent comment, reportedly made in a post-race debrief with team members, was never meant for the public—but once it surfaced, it was impossible to ignore.

By the next morning, racing forums and social channels were ablaze. One viral post asked bluntly: “Did Carmouche just call out the two most popular jockeys in the world?” The debate spiraled from there, with fans split between admiration and criticism. Dettori has yet to respond publicly, but insiders close to his camp say he was “surprised but not offended.” Ortiz Jr., meanwhile, shrugged it off in a press comment, saying, “I respect Kendrick. He won. He earned it. No hard feelings.”

Still, the rift is now public—and potentially pivotal. With Saratoga’s most competitive races still ahead, Carmouche’s words may have lit the fire for a new narrative: one where underdogs don’t just race, but speak up. And in a sport hungry for both authenticity and rivalry, that could be exactly what horse racing needs.

As the summer unfolds, fans will be watching not just who wins on the track, but who controls the conversation off it. Carmouche, once quiet and unassuming, has suddenly become the most talked-about man at Saratoga. And love him or loathe him, he’s made one thing clear: he’s here to win—and he’s doing it on his own terms.