Chip Honcho is one of the contenders at the Preakness and jockey, Jose Ortiz along with trainer Steve Asmussen are a major reason why the horse is a threat. The ownership group of Leland Ackerley Racing (majority owner Leland Ackerley), James Sherwood, Jode Shupe and John Cilia have also invested heavily to ensure Chip Honcho reaches his full potential.
Ortiz is coming off an impressive Kentucky Derby win while riding Golden Tempo. Since the horse is not running at the Preakness, Ortiz will attempt to win the Triple Crown on different horses.
Chip Honcho was bred in Kentucky by Alex Venneri and Tony Fanticola and was sold for a purchase price of $210,000 as a yearling in 2024, per TwinSpires.com. Heading into the Preakness, Chip Honcho had some of the best odds to win the race.
Meet Chip Honcho’s jockey, trainer and ownership group.
With Golden Tempo Not in the Preakness, Chip Honcho’s Jockey, Jose Ortiz, Is Trying to Win the Triple Crown With Different Horses
Ortiz has earned more than $311 million in 18,894 starts over his career, per Equinase.com. The talented jockey has 3,579 wins heading into the Preakness.
With Golden Tempo’s team passing on the Preakness, Ortiz will have to attempt the Triple Crown while riding different horses.
“Trying to win the Triple Crown on different horses – why not?” Ortiz explained, per the Paulick Report. “I’m going for it. Hopefully I can win it.
“… I think Chip Honcho has a very good chance to win the Preakness. He’s a nice horse. I broke his maiden. He had a very good winter at the Fair Grounds, other than the last race. But he’s a really nice horse and has a really good shot in the Preakness.”
Chip Honcho’s Trainer, Steve Asmussen, Has Earned Nearly $495 Million During His Career
Ortiz’s chances to notch another win are boosted by the presence of Asmussen, one of the top trainers in horse racing. Asmussen has been particularly successful at the Preakness earning two wins in 2007 and 2009.
The legendary trainer also had the winning horse at the 2016 Belmont Stakes. Asmussen has earned nearly $495 million during his career, including $9.3 million and counting in 2026, per America’s Best Racing.
Chip Honcho did not race in the Kentucky Derby as the team eyed the Preakness as a better fit for the horse.
“Our issues with Chip obviously not being as consistent as we want is how he handles [things],” Asmussen explained in April, per Preakness.com. “Blinkers on, blinkers off. How aggressive he is, how he breaks.
“We’ve got 150,000 [people at Kentucky Derby] and [4,800] at Laurel [at Preakness]. I’d put that under the common sense category.”
Jockey Jose Ortiz Has Won the Preakness, Kentucky Derby & Belmont
Chip Honcho may not be the most consistent horse, but he enters the Preakness well rested after skipping Churchill Downs. Asmussen likes the team’s chances with Ortiz on the saddle fresh off his Kentucky Derby win.
“The hottest rider in the world riding him? I kind of like that,” Asmussen said, per DRF.com.
In addition to the recent Kentucky Derby win, Ortiz notched a Preakness victory in 2022 and won the Belmont in 2017. Now, Ortiz looks to win all three races in the same year.
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