Photo: NYRA/Adam Coglianese
Junior Alvarado
brought home five winners on Friday afternoon at Aqueduct Racetrack, including
four straight, to move into third place in the jockey standings with 53 winners
for the inner-track meet.
The 26-year-old Alvarado started his day by winning the first race, a
six-furlong claimer, aboard Pretty Cozzy ($11). After finishing third in race
2, Alvarado kicked off a sweep of the next four races with favored Hardened
Wildcat ($3.10) in race 3, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds. In race 4,
Alvarado scored with last-to-first Awesome Arceno ($15) and next posted a
front-running victory with North Freeway ($8.30) in race 5.
Alvarado’s final victory of the afternoon came aboard Muster Up
($8.70) in race 6, a one-mile claiming race for 3-year-olds. He then finished
fifth in race 8.
It was the second big day at the Big A this year for Alvarado, who
launched 2012 with a four-win afternoon on January 1.
The victories moved Alvarado past Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the standings,
where he trails reigning Eclipse Award winner Ramon Dominguez, who leads with
66 winners, and Cornelio Velasquez, in second place with 62 winners.