NEW YORK -- Jorge Velasquez became the first jockey to win six races in six attempts on the same day in New York Thursday, completing the trick at Belmont Park with a -length victory aboard Recent Issue in the featured eighth race.
Nine other jockeys, beginning with Albert Robertson in 1941, have ridden six winners in a single day in New York but none did it in just six tries. Velasquz has also ridden six winners once before -- in seven mounts at Garden State Park Nov. 16, 1965.
Paul Bailey, who entered the winner's circle five times in five attempts on June 26, 1959, is the only jockey ever to come close to accomplishing such a sweep.
Velasquez, who rode Pleasant Colony to victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, missed a chance for a seventh straight winner when Rita's Ace, the favorite in the ninth race, was scratched after being knocked down by another horse in the paddock and suffering skinned hocks.
None of Velasquez's other mounts were favorites.
After guiding I Am Sure to a $10.00 win in the first race, Velasquez won aboard Old King Cole ($16.00) in the third and Jane Munday ($12.60) in the fourth. Fringed Native (37.60) carried the 34-year-old Panamanian to victory in the sixth race and Adventure ($16.20) was Velasquez's triumphant mount in the seventh race.
In the feature, Recent Issue, sent off at 3-1 by the crowd of 13,389, battled with favored Settlement Day throughout the race before winning the 1 1-16th mile test for 3-year-olds and up in 1:42 4-5. Recent Issue paid $8.20, $3.40 and $2.20.
'When I looked at the Racing Form this morning, I thought I had a chance to win a couple of races, but never six,' said Velasquez. 'That's incredible! Maybe I should go on that television show.'
Velasquez, who was disappointed that Rita's Ace was pulled out of the final race, also said the blistering 90-degree weather might have helped him.
'Other jockeys have told me the hot weather moves me up,' he said. 'It must be Panama weather.'
Velasquez has been the leading jockey in New York six times and trails only Willie Shoemaker in total triumphs in races worth $100,000 or more.
