Maragh, Cohen returning to New York

The New York riding colony will welcome two old faces back to the fold this spring.

Over the next two weeks, Rajiv Maragh, who spent the winter in Southern California, and David Cohen, who returned from a three-year hiatus to ride at Oaklawn, will begin riding at Aqueduct.

Maragh will return to New York next week after riding at Santa Anita through the weekend. Maragh had 15 wins, 19 seconds, and 18 thirds from 157 mounts at Santa Anita.

“Things are going decent,” Maragh said Friday from Southern California. “I’m just getting really homesick. I was hoping this could have been a long-term thing for me, but I miss my family and it was difficult trying to adjust and long-term I feel that’s not what I want.”

Maragh, who hopes to begin riding next week, will reunite with Tony Micallef, who had previously been his agent.

Cohen enjoyed some success in the early 2000s in New York before taking time off to deal with family issues. He resurfaced at Oaklawn this winter where, entering Friday’s card, he was vying for second in the standings with 35 wins from 224 mounts. He also had 26 seconds and 37 thirds.
Cohen will be represented by Bill Castle.
“He’s hoping he gets an opportunity,” Castle said. “He’s going to work harder than he’s ever worked in his life.”

Note: A previous version of this story mentioned that apprentice Reylu Gutierriez would be moving his tack to New York. He is not coming, according to Micallef.