Social Paranoia takes Dueling Ground Derby, caps Ortiz’s big weekend

Social Paranoia takes Dueling Ground Derby, caps Ortiz’s big weekend

Jose Ortiz capped a profitable and prolific Kentucky Downs weekend Sunday when he piloted Social Paranoia to victory in the $600,000 Dueling Grounds Derby.

Ortiz swept both of Sunday’s feature events, also taking the $350,000 Dueling Grounds Oaks aboard Princesa Carolina.

Those scores followed Saturday stakes victories on Ms Bad Behavior in the Grade 3, $500,000 Ladies Turf Stakes and on Zulu Alpha in the $1 million Kentucky Turf Cup (G3).

Between Saturday and Sunday, Ortiz won seven of his 17 starts over the turf in Franklin, Ky.

Ortiz’s Dueling Grounds Derby score came in a race where his mount, the Todd Pletcher-trained Social Paranoia, went off the 1-2 favorite.

Social Paranoia (The Elkstone Group, Stuart Grant) broke Sunday from the inside post in the 1 5/16-mile trip for 3-year-olds. The colt stayed third behind 23-1 longshot pace-setter Temple and Ry’s the Guy approaching the stretch.

Ortiz tucked Social Paranoia in behind Ry’s the Guy in early stretch as that one went to the lead. Social Paranoia then tipped outside and revved up for the final two furlongs.

After running in close quarters with Ry’s the Guy, Social Paranoia drew ahead and scored by ¾ of a length. He returned $3 to win, with Ry’s the Guy finishing second and Temple staying up for third.

Horse Racing Nation

September 10, 2019