Jacobson, Velasquez win four consecutive races

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The trainer-jockey combination of David Jacobson and Cornelio Velasquez was the key to unlocking Wednesday’s pick six at Aqueduct as the duo won four consecutive races in the sequence.

There was a pick six carryover of $89,776 entering the card, and an additional $398,286 was wagered into the pool.

Jacobson had the universal single in Aleander in race 5. Despite a four-wide trip, Aleander, the 1-20 favorite, won by two lengths, returning $2.10 to win.

Over the next 65 minutes, Jacobson and Velasquez won races 6 through 8 with War Hero ($11.20), Laghubaar ($4.30), and Stallwalkin’ Dude ($10.40).

Jockey Angel Cruz, who won three races on the card, took the first and last legs of the pick six with Miss Da Point ($5.50) in race 4 and Hidden Warrior ($8.20) in race 9.

The pick six returned $1,315 for a $2 wager.

For Jacobson, it was a perfect afternoon as he won with all four of his starters. Velasquez went 4 for 7, finishing fourth on his mount, Ice Wagon, in the ninth race in a bid to win five consecutive races.

“We’re not coming here to lose,” Jacobson said. “Every day we’re trying to win every race we run in; once in a while you get lucky and you do.”

Jacobson said all the horses were in the right spot.

“Three of the four horses were claimed, which definitely means they were in the right spot,” Jacobson said.

Stallwalkin’ Dude, who nosed out Sky Commander in the eighth race, was the only one of the quartet who was not claimed.

On May 23, 2013, at Belmont Park, Jacobson won four races on a nine-race card, but they were not consecutive, and he had a loss during that card.

Velasquez said he has had several five-win days in his career, but he couldn’t recall ever winning four consecutive races.

It is uncertain how many times a trainer-jockey team combined to win four consecutive races on the New York Racing Association circuit. Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez won four straight races at Saratoga on Aug. 30, 2004, as part of a five-win day for that dynamic duo.