ROUNDUP : Cheers, Boos for Cordero at Belmont

The cheers, if not resounding, were heartfelt when the Belmont Park track announcer thundered, “And they’re off, and there goes Cordero.”

On Saturday, Angel Cordero rode in New York, where he was a colorful and controversial presence for more than a quarter-century, for the first time since serious injuries in a spill at Aqueduct in 1992 forced him to retire and become a trainer.

Cordero went to the front on Devils Marble in the second race, but the colt faded at the head of the stretch and finished fifth.

Still, there was applause for Cordero, riding a 10-1 shot, and he was asked to sign autographs on the way to the jockeys room.

Cordero heard boos, however, when he finished second on Fourstars Allstar to Pride Of Summer in the Mohawk on the grass. Fourstars Allstar and Cordero are expected to compete in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on the turf Oct. 28 at Belmont.

In three other races, all stakes, Cordero’s mounts finished fifth, sixth and 10th.

The spill at Aqueduct on Jan. 12, 1992 left him with a broken arm, three broken ribs and serious internal injuries. He announced his retirement May 7 of that year.

On Oct. 1, he ended his long layoff by finishing first and second in two races at El Commandante in Puerto Rico.

“I don’t want to come back permanently. . . . I just wanted to be able to leave on my own terms,” he said. “It’s not on my mind to do this permanently.”

In fact, Cordero plans to ride only Thursday and Friday of Breeders’ Cup week, on Breeders’ Cup day and in a race in the Dominican Republic on Dec. 9.

He said he will resume training after that.

*

Brilliant Patriot, ridden by Mario Pino, jumped up from the claiming ranks to score a half-length upset victory in the $200,000 Maryland Million Classic in driving rain at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.

Brilliant Patriot is trained by Vinnie Blengs, who claimed him in June for $25,000. Since then, the colt has won $190,580.