On Sunday, Oct. 13, Irad Ortiz Jr. was the center of attention after guiding Mark Stanley’s Good Temper to victory in Keeneland’s first race for the 4,000^th win of his career. After the traditional Winner’s Circle picture with the filly’s connections, another photo was taken with Ortiz surrounded by his fellow riders as Stanley stood to the side.

The scene was somewhat familiar to Stanley, who owned the horse, Camden Park, who provided Hall of Famer Pat Day with his 8,000^th triumph in 2001 at Churchill Downs. Camden Park was trained by Elliott Walden, whose son Will trains Good Temper.

“I have known Will since he was about 8 years old,” Stanley said. “He would come to the races, and he played basketball with my nephews. This is my first horse with Will, and I will support him as best I can. 

“I didn’t know until that morning that Irad was going for his 4,000^th win,” Stanley added. “There was no pressure for me. I was excited and hoping that it would turn out that way with a bookend of Elliott and Will.”

Stanley and his wife, Nancy, have been campaigning Thoroughbreds since 1993. Their considerable success includes such runners as Grade 1-winning millionaire Ecton Park, a starter in the 1999 Kentucky Derby. The elder Walden trained Ecton Park before he became a private trainer and later President of WinStar Farm.

Good Temper’s name follows a theme the Stanleys started with their first racehorse, Her Temper, winner of Keeneland’s Beaumont (G2) in 1994. Her Temper was named for the Stanleys’ daughter, Alex, who was a toddler at the time and attended Sunday’s race. Their other notable “Temper” horses include Grade 2 winner Tiny Temper and graded stakes-placed Quick Temper.

With Ortiz aboard Good Temper in Sunday’s maiden race for 2-year-olds, the filly became a winner in her second career start. 

The younger Walden was well aware of the victory’s many generational and coincidental connections.

“I hope that Irad is to me what Pat Day was to my dad,” he said.