The rail is golden.

Those were Albert Delgado's words of wisdom at Pimlico Race Course yesterday, after he won four races and jumped three places in the jockey standings.

The 29 year-old jockey went from eighth to fifth in the rankings. He won races aboard Harbor Sounds (fifth race), Busy Me (eighth), You Slewz You Lose (ninth) and Set the Pace (10th).

"I don't know why the fence is so good right now, but that's the place to be," Delgado said.

The jockey is bracing himself for Saturday, when he will ride in three stakes that are collectively worth $400,000 on the Maryland Spring Breeders' Challenge card. Delgado's mounts will include Takeitlikeaman in the $200,000 Federico Tesio Stakes, Ameri Valay ($100,000 Jennings Handicap) and Starlight Surprise ($100,000 Geisha Handicap).

After 16 days of the Pimlico spring meet, Edgar Prado leads Mark Johnston 20 wins to 19, in the Pimlico jockey standings. Mario Pino is next with 13, followed by Larry Reynolds (11) and Delgado (10).