The wait for a first Royal Ascot winner goes on for Irad Ortiz Jr. after his week went from bad to worse when he was suspended for five days for careless riding after finishing fourth on Love Reigns in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2).
Ortiz has been aboard Wesley Ward-trained runners this week but endured a nightmare start to his first Royal Ascot when favored Golden Pal fluffed the break in the King's Stand Stakes (G1).
There was no such issue in the Queen Mary as Love Reigns broke quickly and took the advantage but was headed with a furlong to travel by victorious Dramatised before being narrowly denied for third by Maria Branwell.
However, stewards suspended Ortiz for five days for careless riding after he was deemed to have allowed Love Reigns to drift left shortly after the start, forcing Katey Kontent to move from her intended line.
"She ran big," said Ortiz. "She ran brilliantly. I was in a good position and when I asked her she kept responding. The winner was really good today and I just got beat for third on the wire. The winner was much the best but Love Reigns gave a great performance."
His afternoon did not get any better in finishing 23rd of 24 runners on the Ward-trained Seismic Spirit in the Windsor Castle Stakes.
Ortiz has two more chances to get off the Royal Ascot mark during the meeting.
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