**Please see the attached photo of Linda Rice and Cornelio Velasquez with Abilio in the winner's circle after Saturday's 8th race at Aqueduct. It was the fourth victory on the day for both. Credit NYRA/Adam Coglianese.**
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Contact: Ashley Herriman
FOUR WINS EACH AND THREE TOGETHER FOR RICE AND VELASQUEZ SATURDAY AT AQUEDUCT
Rice and Velasquez picked up their first victories separately on Saturday, with the trainer sending out Finn Again ($7.60) to win the second race, a turf route for maidens, under Alan Garcia. In race 4, the Northern Willy overnight stakes, Velasquez piloted Miss Valentine ($3.80) to a 2 ¼-length victory over the main track for trainer Christophe Clement.
Rice and Velasquez then teamed up to win race 5 with Cricky'sgoldeneyes ($7.90) and race 6 with longshot first-timer N. F.'s Destiny ($22.20). Rice's Tell Grant finished eighth in race 7 with Velasquez aboard, but the pair resumed their winning ways on the turf in race 8 when Velasquez guided Abilio ($8.50) to a one-length allowance victory.
"I thought we had a really good chance to win the second, the sixth, and the eighth," Rice said after Abilio's victory. "I wasn't counting on the fifth. It's a good time to have all the grass horses back from vacation and
Rice is one win ahead of both Rudy Rodriguez (11) and Rick Dutrow, Jr. (11) in the Aqueduct main track trainer standings and has six horses entered on Sunday's closing day card at Aqueduct, while Velasquez is named to ride five, including three for Rice.
Sunday's final Big A card also will feature a mandatory payout for a $44,851.33 Pick 6 Carryover which begins in Race 4, scheduled to go off at 2:25 p.m.
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