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Franco wins five on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack

by Christian Abdo

Jockey Manny Franco won five races from six mounts on Saturday’s nine-race card at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Franco posted a 6-5-0-1 record on the day, including an upset stakes win aboard Golden Rocket [No. 1, $18.60] for trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci in the $125,000 Staten Island division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, in Race 7.

“I’m happy. I’m blessed. I want to say thank you to all the trainers, owners, and my agent John Panagot. That is the man behind the scenes,” said Franco. “I thought before today that I came to the room positive and trying to do my best to put the horses in the best position to win and the horses were there for me today.”

Franco started his day on the right foot with a win aboard the Rudy Rodriguez-trained Bank Frenzy [No. 2, $3.60*] in Race 1, a one-turn mile optional claimer. He won with his next mount in Race 3, aboard Land d’Oro [No. 1A, $6] for conditioner Christophe Clement in a one-turn mile allowance for New York-breds.

Impressively, Franco won his next two mounts as well, including the Jeremiah Englehart-trained Sir Kartrite [No. 4, $10] in a 6 1/2-furlong state-bred maiden in Race 5, and the aforementioned Golden Rocket’s driving score in the NYSSS Staten Island [Race 7].

Franco maintained a perfect on-the-board record when third aboard the 17-1 B D Saints in the $125,000 Thunder Rumble division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, in Race 8. He couldn’t be kept out of the winner’s circle for long, however, as he came back to win the next race aboard the favored Lightning Mama [No. 7, $6.70*] for trainer Mike Maker, securing his fifth win in the Race 9 finale, a state-bred maiden claimer.

“It is not easy to win one race. They were running for me,” Franco said. “When you win five, it is just a blessing. I’m just dreaming right now.”

Live racing resumes Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack with a nine-race program. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.