Maragh scores in first race back from arm injury

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Jockey Rajiv Maragh made a triumphant return to the saddle Friday, winning the featured ninth race aboard Sky Blazer with his first mount since severely breaking his right arm when unseated from Wicked Strong during the 2014 Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Maragh has two plates and 13 screws holding together his injured arm. He said he will not have the plates or screws removed so that he can avoid additional surgery.

“I’m the Jamaican Iron Man,” Maragh said with a laugh.

Maragh said he felt great during the race but admitted to being tired as he stood in the winner’s circle watching the replay.

“My arms are tired, they’re tired,” said Maragh. “You can’t really get completely fit working horses in the morning. But I felt really good out there. I didn’t feel like I missed anything. I was skeptical of what to expect being off so long, but it worked out perfect. And [Sky Blazer] was a good horse to start back on. He was the favorite, he’s such a consistent horse, he always gives an honest kick, and we were able to get them today. I couldn’t have written the script any better for my return than what happened today.”

Maragh said he and his agent wanted to take things a bit easy to start back.

“We didn’t want to bite off more than we can chew,” said Maragh. “We started with one mount [Friday], three [Saturday], and four on Sunday, and then hopefully we’ll be able to build up from there.”

Barclay Tagg, who trains Sky Blazer, said he couldn’t have been happier to have Maragh available for the race.

“Rajiv suits him to a T,” said Tagg. “I love the way he rides anyway. It was nice he could get something like this to start back for him.”

Friday’s victory was the sixth in 32 starts for the 7-year-old Sky Blazer, who was Grade 2 stakes-placed in 2014. Four of his wins have come at Gulfstream Park.