Jockey Velasquez Secures Aqueduct Meet Title

Jockey Cornelio Velasquez won the fifth race at Aqueduct on April 23 to earn his second career riding title at a New York Racing Association track, while Linda Rice and David Jacobson dead-heated atop the trainer standings at the conclusion of the 18-day spring meet.

By bringing home Able Bellamy ($5.30) (VIDEO), Velasquez was able to hold onto his narrow lead over Ramon Dominguez, who had a pair of winners on the card, and finish the meet with 25 victories to Dominguez’s 24. The 42-year-old Panamanian, who remained in New York over the winter rather than traveling to Florida as in previous years, took the lead among riders on April 7 when he brought home four winners en route to denying Dominguez his 14th individual NYRA meet title.

Velasquez’ previous meet title came in 2007 at Saratoga Race Course.

Rice, who became the first woman trainer to win a NYRA meet in 2010 at Saratoga Race Course, and Jacobson, who returned to training in 2007 after a 25-year absence, each saddled nine winners during the meet.

Michael Dubb, New York’s leading owner in 2010, was the meet’s leading owner with five victories.

With the conclusion of Aqueduct’s spring meet, racing moves to Belmont Park beginning Friday, April 29, for the 56-day spring/summer meet that runs through July 17.