Velazquez wins four straight

John Velazquez extended his lead in the jockey standings at the 2004 Gulfstream Park meeting after winning the final four races on Friday's program.

Two of Velazquez's victories came for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, aboard L'Oiseau d'Argent in the sixth race and Binya in the featured eighth event. Both horses were making their U.S. debuts.

Velazquez also won the seventh race for Todd Pletcher on Liberty Son, then closed out his big day guiding trainer Peter Walder's odds-on favorite Cajun Concert to an easy victory in the finale.

Velazquez has now won 16 races over the first 10 days of the meet. McLaughlin's two winners gave him six victories from his first nine starters at the meet.