Maragh shines with triple
QUEENS, New York (CMC): RAJIV MARAGH made his presence felt on the eight-race card at Aqueduct here on Thursday as he muscled his way back into contention in the jockeys championship with an impressive triple.
The 31-year-old opened the programme with a dominant win aboard 3-1 chance She’d Had Enough, followed up with victory in Race Five aboard favourite Bee Noteworthy before pairing with 2-1 bet Big Al Parker to win race six.
With his latest success, the Jamaican climbed into third spot in the meet standings on 28 wins, only three adrift of Irad Irtiz Jr and right alongside second-place Kenrick Carmouche, also on 28.
Maragh, who only last week won half the races on an eightrace card here, once again showed his class by taking the headlines at the eastern United States racing oval.
SLAMMING THE RIVALS
He opened his account in style, making all the inning with chestnut filly She’s Had Enough to slam the three-year-olds by 13-1/2 lengths in a mile trip.
The pair produced easy splits of 25.37 seconds for the quarter and 50.26 seconds for the half while being tracked by Unbridled adventure but began to pull away approaching the five-sixteenth pole and was never challenged thereafter.
Maragh was again dominant in Race Five as he carried fiveyear-old bay mare Bee Noteworthy to a comfortable eight-length victory over the four-year-old and upward fillies and mares.
Going six furlongs, Maragh raced Bee Noteworthy off the pace as 2-1 choice Sing For Beauty posted the early fractions. The pair then made their move at the three-sixteenth, got to the front quickly, and stormed to the finish.
In contrast, in Race Six, Maragh was forced to battle before he could get five-yearold bay gelding Big Al Parker to a half-length win over the four-year-old and upwards.
Going a mile, The Undersheriff made most of the running with Big Al Parker, bumped at the start by the leader, well off the pace.
Maragh bided his time in the stretch before unleashing a challenge along the rails, barely getting up in the final yards to pip the leaders, with Dan the Man finishing second.