Adam Coglianese / NYRA Photo

Manny Franco rides five winners on Saturday’s card at Aqueduct Racetrack

by Brian Bohl

Jockey Manny Franco won five races on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack, including the favorite Desbordes in the ninth-race finale.

Franco, the New York Racing Association’s year-end leading rider in 2018 and 2019, piloted the winners in Races 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9. He moved into a tie for second with Eric Cancel with 48 winners during Aqueduct winter meet, trailing only Jose Lezcano’s 52 victories.

Franco won five races on September 13 at Belmont Park and picked up his first career five-win day on March 11, 2018 at the Big A.

“I got good mounts today and I was confident about that,” Franco said. “Everything went the right way. We got five winners. I really don’t think about it. I’m just trying to ride the horses the way I’m told and follow instructions and try to do my best.”

Four of Franco’s five winners were favorites, starting with We Should Talk in Race 2, who returned $5.10 on a $2 win wager. The native of Carolina, Puerto Rico won on back-to-back favorites in Races 4 and 5 with Bertranda ($3.70) and Septimius Severus ($6.60), and returned to the winner’s circle aboard Playwright ($7.50) in Race 7. Desbordes returned $5 with Franco in the irons in Race 9.

Live racing resumes on Sunday at Aqueduct with an eight-race card highlighted by the $100,000 Maddie May in Race 7. First post is 1:20 p.m. Eastern.