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Rajiv Maragh

ELMONT, New York (CMC): Jamaican jockey Rajiv Maragh produced a strong stretch run with 5-1 chance Invading Humor to win the US$125 000 John Hettinger Stakes at Belmont Park here Sunday.

In contention for most of the mile and eighth trip, the four-year-old filly faded slightly at the top of the stretch but Maragh got the best out of her with a furlong to run and she ran by the leaders to reach the wire a length clear in a time of one minute, 49.47 seconds.

"I didn't ask her until I got to the stretch. I thought I still had horse, but until you let them loose you never know. When I asked her to run, she just sprinted away," Maragh said afterward.

The win was the fourth consecutive one for Invading Humor but her first added money success.

Maragh's win was one of three on the ten-race card. He captured the opening race over 6-1/2 furlongs with favourite Shayjolie and followed up in race two by guiding 4-1 bet Desert Image to victory over the two-year-old fillies in a 5-1/2 furlong sprint.