Ortega's Horse wins at Santa Anita
Ortega Family Fundraiser
What: High School Baseball
Who: Charter Oak vs. Covina, 2 p.m.; South Hills vs. Northview, 5 p.m.
Where: Azusa Pacific University
When: Monday, Jan. 19.
Admission: $2 minimum donation. All donations also are accepted and all proceeds from snack bar sals will go to the family
ARCADIA - Tears freely flowed Thursday at Santa Anita when Return of the King stepped into the Winner's Circle. Friends and family members of Joseph, James and Charles Ortega had come to see their seven-year-old chestnut gelding race for perhaps the last time from the barn of trainer David Bernstein. The three Ortegas were among nine family members slain at a Covina home on Christmas Eve by Bruce Pardo, the estranged husband of Joseph's daughter Sylvia.
"This was special," Bernstein said. "It was hard to keep from crying from the moment he left the paddock." Jockey Martin Pedroza, who has raced in Breeder's Cup events and won the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap in 1989, guided Return of the King through a nearly flawless 6-furlong trip around one turn on the dirt track. Crossing the finish line Pedroza raised his whip to the sky and briefly bowed his head. "I've been riding for 26 years, the feeling I had today was amazing," Pedroza said. "It's very hard to describe. I had goose bumps up and down my arms as I was coming back (to the Winner's Circle.)"
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Friends of the Ortegas wore orange ribbons on their chests to honor the family. Several wept openly when Pedroza posed with them for a photo.
"Nine people up there - the angels - brought him home," Ortega family friend Jerry Rocha said. "We were here for the family most of all."
Because Return of the King was entered in a claiming race, anyone putting in a claim could have bought the horse. He went unclaimed and remains in Bernstein's stable for a while longer.
Prior to the race, Bernstein patted his horse on the neck then wiped a tear from his eye.
"This was Jimmy's pride and joy," he recalled.
PHOTO GALLERY
Return of the King
Until Thursday, James Ortega was among three family members still listed as missing but presumed dead by the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner. His body has now been positively identified, according to Lt. Fred Corral with the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.
Two other bodies from the
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crime scene in the 1100 block of Knollcrest Drive remain unidentified. They are believed to be Sylvia Pardo and her 17-year-old nephew, Michael Ortiz of Ontario, authorities said.
Pedroza, who said he was devastated by the killings, recalled James and Charles as "wonderful people.
"They were like the greatest," he said. "If the horse ran, they were there, when the horse came back to work like six days later, they would be there too."
Thursday's win didn't look like a sure thing for Pedroza. He held his mount's reigns tightly and hung just off the leaders in the backstretch. When it came time to make a move, the jockey guided the horse to the outside and let Return of the King take over the leaders in the homestretch.
"I think these people were like my wings," Pedroza said. "They guided me through. It felt like they were saying to me, `No matter what you do, you are going to get there."'
- Staff Writer Amanda Baumfeld contributed to this story.
frank.girardot@sgvn.com
(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2717
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Miguel Melendez's prep blog
In the Huddle
ESPN
OC Varsity
San Bernardino Sun Preps
LA times Varsity Blog
Daily Bulletin Preps
Whittier Daily News Preps
LA Daily News Preps
Long Beach Press Telegram Preps
Daily Breeze Preps
Dyestat Track and Cross Country
MaxPreps
Rivals.Com
College Level Athletes
Fixed is definetly not the word, especially since the horse has won in the past. But...
What jockey would want to beat that horse.
Talk about Karma.
Anyway the racing community is doing a great job to help.
Do not twist what I am saying here, but that Horserace was fixed to benefit the cause. Great for all that bet the horse and great for the family. Santa Anita great job.
Very befitting ending...