BELMONT, New York (CMC) — Jamaican rider Rajiv Maragh continued to inch his way up the jockeys’ standings when he picked off two wins on the 10-race card at Belmont on Saturday.

The talented 24-year-old raised the curtain on the day’s action when he steered the three-year-old chestnut colt Friend Or Foe to victory and returned to the winners’ enclosure in race two with the bay colt EH Indy.

His success left him sixth in the standings on eight wins for the new season, just five adrift of leader Cornelio Velasquez.

In race one going six furlongs for the three-year-olds and upward, Maragh raced the odds-on favourite Friend Or Foe just off the pace as Hot Minute and Cash Is Cohen made the early running.

He safely navigated traffic at the quarter-pole before going in pursuit of Hot Minute who opened up a near-two length lead in mid-stretch.

Maragh then wore down Hot Minute in the final metres to get home by 1-3/4 lengths.

In race two over 1-1/16th miles, Maragh pressed the pace early with EH Indy as Avenging Spirit posted fractions of 25.74 seconds and 51.58 seconds.

Maragh then bid in mid-stretch and EH Indy responded well, overhauling Avenging Spirit in the dying stages to get home by a neck in one minute, 44.56 seconds.