Aqueduct: Alvarado has first five-win day

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Junior Alvarado recorded his first five-win day as a jockey Friday, going 5 for 7 on the Aqueduct card card, including winning four consecutive races.

Alvarado won the opener aboard Pretty Cozzy ($11), who upset 2-5 favorite Specklebird.

After finishing third with Readygetsgold in the second, Alvarado won the third with Hardened Wildcat ($3.10), the fourth on Awesome Arceno ($15), the fifth with North Freeway ($8.30), and the sixth on Muster Up ($8.70).

His bid to tie the New York Racing Association single-day record of six wins fell short when He’s So Chic finished fifth in the eighth race.

Alvarado, 25, said it was the first time in his career he has ridden five winners on one card.

“I’ve won four and still had three favorites,” left to ride, “but couldn’t get it,” said Alvarado, who has spent the majority of his career riding in Chicago.

It has been quite a winter for Alvarado. Since early January, he has been unseated on four occasions. His five wins Friday, give him 53 at this winter, third in the standings behind Ramon Dominguez and Cornelio Velasquez.