BELMONT, New York, (CMC):

Jamaican jockey Rajiv Maragh produced a front-running effort with three-year-old bay colt Currency Swap to win the US$85,000 You and I Stakes at Belmont Park here Saturday.

Maragh sent the 3-2 choice to the front from early and never relinquished the lead, reaching the wire by three-quarter lengths in a time of one minute, 22.43 seconds.

The win was Currency Swap's second added-money career win after his triumph in the Grade 1 Three Chimneys Hopeful at Saratoga last year.

"When I saw him on the overnight, I was really excited. He's a really talented horse. I got a good draw on the outside, so I had a shot to break and see what was happening," Maragh said.

"It didn't seem like the pace was developing fast, so I kind of just took advantage of that and stayed close and he finished strong. He kept on going, it definitely was not the end of his run at the wire. He had more left."

Maragh broke the colt sharply and sent it to the front to post easy fractions of 23.67 seconds through the quarter-mile and 47.17 seconds for the half-mile.

Tightend Touchdown tracked closely from second with Brian third and the favourite Hardened Wildcat back in fourth.

At the top of the stretch, Maragh opened up Currency Swap and the colt responded well to edge away, despite a late challenge from Brian.