QUEENS, New York City (CMC):

Jamaican reinsman Rajiv Maragh landed two winners at Aqueduct on Wednesday, to close in on second spot in the jockeys' standings at the northeastern United States racetrack.

He opened his account in race three when he guided Even Raise to victory in race three and he returned in race five to produce a dominant performance with the four-year-old filly Hello Gold.

The brace carried Maragh to 65 wins, one short of Charles Lopez who occupies second, with runaway leader Ramon Dominguez on 136 wins.

Going off as the raging hot favourite in the event over 1 1/8th miles, Maragh pressed the pace from the outside as Valid Sum set the pace, posting fractions of 24.66 seconds and 48.97 seconds.

As the race reached the quarter pole, Maragh angled the five-year-old bay horse out and made his bid, grabbing the lead in mid-stretch and running on strongly to win the event by 4 3/4 lengths in one minute, 51.82 seconds.

Partnered with Hello Gold in race five over a mile on dirt for three-year-olds, Maragh broke the brown filly nicely and sent her immediately to the front, taking the field through its early paces.

She was tracked closely by Kittys Wish who pulled within three quarters of a length at one stage but failed to keep pace in the latter stages, as Hello Gold drew away under steady urging to win handsomely by 3 1/4 lengths.