Maragh wins Herecomesthebride Stakes at Gulfstream
HALLANDALE BEACH, Florida (CMC) — Rajiv Maragh used skilful front-running tactics to score a surprise win in Saturday’s Herecomesthebride Stakes at Gulfstream Park, giving the Jamaican riding ace his first added-money win of the new season.
Maragh, 24, staged a vigorous finish astride the 8-to-1 entry Khancord Kid to repel strong late challenges from the favourite Upperline and 11-2 bet Apple Charlotte to win the mile and an eighth event for three-year-old fillies by half-length for trainer
John Kimmell.
Khancord Kid clocked one minute, 47.14 seconds in victory over Apple Charlotte with the 3-1 top choice Upperline a further half-length
behind in third.
Showing good speed from the start of the US$150,000 event on turf, Khancord Kid set the pace on the inside under Maragh, stalked by Dynazaper (4-1), Check the Label (9-2) and Upperline.
Maragh, the most successful Caribbean jockey in North American horse racing in the 2009 campaign, roused his chestnut filly to move clear coming off the final bend and straightened for the homestretch with a near two-length lead.
Apple Charlotte came from a long way off the pace to challenge for a victory in deep stretch and Upperline was also gaining at the finish but Maragh kept Khancord Kid in front for a fine win.
“The pace was pretty comfortable up front, so I just let her go on at her own pace,” Maragh said.
“She had a lot left to finish with, and while I won’t say that I was never in any danger late, I knew she had a lot left in the tank to hold on,” added Maragh, who copped 28 stakes wins last year among 236 victories for mounts’ earnings of US$11.73 million.
Maragh also won the US$35,000 sixth race over 5-1/2 furlongs with Friend or Foe by two lengths at odds of 12-1.
Friend or Foe, trained by Kimmell, quickened decisively in the homestretch to win moving away from his rivals in 1:04.86.
Maragh’s double triumph kept him in touch with jockeys’ lead at Gulfstream.
He is joint third — with Elvis Trujillo — on 31 wins, trailing Javier Castellano (39) and John Velasquez (35).