Aqueduct: Coronel wins Broadway Stakes with Risky Rachel in his first start as a trainer

What do you do for an encore?

Risky Rachel, the first-ever starter for new trainer Juan “Manny” Coronel, rolled to a popular score in Saturday’s $75,000 Broadway Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares.

“It’s amazing. It’s like a dream come true,”’ said Coronel, who was an assistant to Risky Rachel’s former trainer, Jim Bond. “She has speed, which made a huge difference.”

Making her first start since a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Go for Wand four months ago, Risky Rachel ($4.70) was sharp as a tack for her 5-year-old bow. She broke alertly from the inside post, and tracked pacesetter Saltamontes through an opening quarter-mile in 22.51 seconds while being maneuvered off the rail by Cornelio Velasquez. She wrested command after a half-mile in 45.78 seconds, and steadily pulled away to win the six-furlong race by 6 1/2 lengths in 1:10.55 on a fast main track.

“She didn’t have a good post, but she stayed close and I had a lot of horse,” said Velasquez, who was notching his third win of the day. “She won easily; I didn’t hit her or anything; very impressive. I’m happy for the trainer that he got his first win, he’s a good friend of mine.”

Big Brownie, the 2-1 second choice, out-finished Nicole’s Miss El for second by a half-length. The order of finish was completed by Lady Gracenote, Saltamontes, Devilish Spirit, and Victoryat Last.