HOT SPRINGS, Arkansas (CMC):

Jamaican jockey Rajiv Maragh confidently piloted the four-year-old filly Seventh Street to a handsome front-running win in the Apple Blossom Stakes at Oaklawn Park racetrack on Saturday afternoon.

Seventh Street won by 5-3/4 lengths for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin as the 2-to-1 second favourite and clocked one minute 43.13 seconds for the mile and 16th trip.

The chestnut filly exhibited strong early speed to press the pace out of the starting gates in the US$490,000 event.

Settled to lead at a controlled, easy pace by Maragh, Seventh Street remained in command until the homestretch when she was roused by the 23-year-old Caribbean jockey.

She quickened impressively over the last two furlongs and slammed the five-horse field in superb fashion, chased by the 9-1 bet Superior Storm.

"She sprinted home. It was just like she re-broke at the quarter pole, then sprinted to the wire," Maragh said after the race.

The hot favourite Acoma (2-5) ran a tame race after being slowly out of the starting gates and was 5-3/4 lengths further back in third.

"It was a great performance, a great ride," said trainer McLaughlin.

"Being as she broke well, Rajiv settled her and appeared to have a lot left turning for home," added the winning trainer.

Julien Leparoux, who rode the favourite Acoma also credited Maragh, suggesting that the other riders with speed horses were tricked by the winning ride.

"They went slow up front and never came back to us. Rajiv Maragh stole the race," Leparoux said.