EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Rigel, claimed three starts ago for $25,000, extended his form spree and continued to pay dividends for his new connections, using a stalking trip just off the speed en route to a one-length victory in Friday’s night’s featured starter optional claimer during the Monmouth-at-Meadowlands meet.

The 5-year-old gelded son of Carpe Diem won for the sixth time in seven starts dating to Dec. 29 of last year. He is five-for-six this year.

The odds-on favorite in the field of seven 3-year-olds and up going a mile and a sixteenth, Rigel was ridden by Fernando Jara and is trained by Jose Gallegos. Jara and Gallegos each won two races on the six race card.

The winning time over a firm turf course was 1:40.68.

Jara was content to set off the flanks of the speedy Talklessworkmore throughout most of the race, with the latter carving out fractions of :23.37, :47.68, 1:11.20 and 1:34.81.

Rigel surged past Talklessworkmore in deep stretch, with Space Launch grabbing second by a neck over Talklessworkmore with a furious late rally.

Rigel paid $3.20 to win.

Now owned by Amaty Racing Stables, Rigel won for the eighth time in 22 career starts. His only loss in the past seven starts was when he was second by a neck two starts ago at Colonial Downs.

The Monmouth-at-Meadowlands meet resumes Saturday night with an all-turf, six race card.

First race post time is 7 p.m.