Manny Franco has used Aqueduct as a springboard to great success and continued his stellar track record at the Big A by posting a five-win day on Saturday. Franco rode five winners on a single card for the third time in his career, becoming the first jockey to reach that plateau this meet.
Franco first won five races on March 11, 2018 at Aqueduct and added a second on September 13 last year at Belmont Park.
After piloting Desbordes to victory in the ninth-race finale on Saturday, Franco said he was glad to continue his success at Aqueduct, where he has won four of his five total individual NYRA meet titles, including both the 2019 winter and spring meets.
“This has been like my home,” Franco said. “Winning here is big for me. I’m riding well and we’ll see how things go. I’m very proud. Winning races here is not easy, so to get five, it’s a dream come true. Here in New York, it’s special.”
Franco, who entered Sunday tied with Eric Cancel for second with 48 wins during the winter meet [Jose Lezcano, 52 wins], has been NYRA’s year-end leading rider the last two years, compiling 244 wins in 2018 and 212 in 2019.
The 25-year-old native of Carolina, Puerto Rico won with four favorites on Saturday, starting with We Should Talk in Race 2. He then won on back-to-back favorites in Races 4 and 5 with Bertranda and Septimius Severus, respectively, and returned to the winner’s circle aboard non-favorite Playwright in Race 7.
Via NYRA Press Release
