Velasquez rides two winners in return to New York

It didn’t take long for Cornelio Velasquez to reacquaint himself with the Aqueduct winner’s circle.

Away from New York for the better part of seven months, Velasquez won two races Thursday, including the $100,000 Damon Runyon Stakes for New York-breds aboard Haul Anchor.

Velasquez, who has 3,798 career wins, according to Equibase, left New York on June 1 to begin riding at Gulfstream Park. In mid-October, Velasquez began riding in Saudi Arabia with one trip to the U.S. to ride a day at Aqueduct on Nov. 4 and Three Rules in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.

Velasquez said it was always the plan to return to the U.S. for the winter, but he chose Aqueduct over Gulfstream when he was able to secure the services of agent Jim Riccio Jr., who also books mounts for Jose Ortiz.

“I have a good agent, he has a lot of business,” Velasquez, 48, said. “Second call for him is better for me.”

Velasquez won four consecutive Aqueduct spring meet riding titles from 2011-14. He also was the leading rider at Saratoga in 2007.