Velazquez a winner in return to races

Jockey John Velazquez marked his return to the races by winning one at Belmont Park on Friday.
Velazquez won the fourth race at Belmont aboard favorite Mr Sam I Am, a 3-year-old gelding trained by Todd Pletcher. It was Velazquez's first race since being sidelined with a cracked right shoulder blade and bruised ribs following a frightening spill at Keeneland in April.
The two-time Eclipse Award winner originally was scheduled to return aboard Scat Daddy in Friday's third race at Monmouth in Oceanport, N.J., but the 2-year-old colt was scratched and entered in Saturday's second race at Belmont.
Velazquez, the regular rider for Pletcher, plans to ease back into shape with two or three mounts per day and will be aboard Bluegrass Cat in the $1 million Belmont Stakes next Saturday. Bluegrass Cat, with Ramon Dominguez subbing, finished second behind Barbaro in the Kentucky Derby in his last start.
Among the nation's top riders, Velazquez was hurt when Up an Octave collapsed and rolled over the jockey after winning the Forerunner Stakes on April 20.
On Thursday, Velazquez said, "I am fit, but when it comes to races you have to be stronger than that. That is why I'm starting right now. ... I'm confident I'll be ready. I'll definitely be 100 percent by then."Source: sports.espn.go.com