Maragh shines with double

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Jamaican jockey Rajiv Maragh extended his bright, early-season form when he won twice on the nine-race card at Aqueduct Racetrack here Saturday.

Maragh, who only returned to the saddle last November following a 16-month injury break, opened his account with victory in race four aboard favourite Can You Diggit before returning in race eight to score with 4-1 choice Spartiatis.

He sits just off the lead in the standings held by Kendrick Carmouche on 12 wins.

Maragh's first win came over a mile when he steered the brown colt Can You Diggit to an easy two and three-quarter length romp over the three-year-old maidens.

He sat the colt near the rear, hugging the rails as 4-1 bet Horoscope whipped the field through fractions of 25.21 for the quarter and 49.72 for the half.

Maragh then brought Can You Diggit strongly through the final turn, before chasing down the leader in the stretch.

For his second score, the 31-year-old partnered with seven-year-old gelding Spartiatis to get the better of the four-year-old and upwards by a length.

Going six furlongs, Maragh and Spartiatis chased the duelling pair of Bond Vigilante and Proven Commodity, before hitting the front late and bursting to the wire.