Maragh captures double

ELMONT, New York (CMC):

Jamaican jockey Rajiv Maragh produced two brilliant rides to capture the US$250,000 Kelso Handicap and the $150,000 Pilgrim Stakes on the 10-race card at Belmont Park on Sunday.

The 25-year-old won the Kelso Handicap with the 3-1 bet Tizway, carrying the five-year-old brown horse to victory by five lengths over the mile-long trip.

Maragh had earlier won the Pilgrim Stakes with the two-year-old bay colt Air Support, taking the 5-1 bet to the wire by 1-1/2 lengths in a journey over 1 1/16th miles.

However, it was his capture of the Kelso Handicap that made headlines, as he guided the Jim Bond-trained horse to his maiden stakes win on his fifth attempt. Maragh stalked the leader Jersey Town before bidding at the quarter-pole, taking command in the stretch and reaching the finishing line convincingly.

"It was definitely a well-deserved win for him. He's always been running against some of the best older horses all over, and to finally win like this was very good for him," Maragh said.