Angel Cruz gets 1,000th career win at Laurel Park

Mi Patria Racing’s 4-year-old Maryland-bred filly, Molly of Stratford, achieved the win at Laurel Park. Under the guidance of jockey Angel Cruz, the filly secured her second win, crossing the finish line in 1:13.36 over a fast main track, with odds of $17.40. Trained by Rudy Sanchez-Salomon, Molly of Stratford closely followed the favored pacesetter, Storm Rate, before pulling ahead and claiming a four-length victory in the lifetime claiming event for fillies and mares. This victory marked a milestone for Cruz, as it was his 1,000th career win. Additionally, this win contributed to Cruz's successful performance at Laurel’s fall meet, where he already secured three victories.

“It’s been a hard path to get to 1,000. It takes a lot of hard work and determination to do it,” the 29-year-old Cruz said. “I just want to thank everybody that’s helped me in my career.”

Coming off a 2023 season where he set career highs across the board in starts (998), wins (137) and purse earnings ($5.57 million), Cruz has 82 wins and $2.7 million in purses earned this year. He ranked in the top 10 in wins and purses at Laurel’s winter, spring and summer meets to open 2024.

Growing up with Eclipse Award-winning brothers Irad Ortiz Jr. and Jose Ortiz, Cruz came to the U.S. at age 11. Both his grandfather, Jose Hiraldo, and uncle, Joel Hiraldo, were jockeys and his cousin, John Hiraldo, won his first race in December 2020 at Laurel and currently rides in Florida and the Mid-Atlantic.

Cruz won his first race April 8, 2014 at Charles Town in West Virginia and also rode in California, Oklahoma and New York – where he edged Irad Ortiz Jr. for the 2015 Aqueduct spring meet title – before putting down roots in Maryland. He was a finalist for the 2014 Eclipse Award as champion apprentice, won by Drayden Van Dyke.

Represented by agent Chris Pipito, Cruz also owns riding titles at Laurel and Timonium. His graded-stakes wins have come with Dancing Rags in the 2016 Alcibiades (G1), Miss Leslie in the 2022 Delaware Handicap (G2), Harpers First Ride in the 2020 Pimlico Special (G3) and Renown in the 2020 Sycamore (G3).

“Winning the Alcibiades at Keeneland for [trainer] Graham Motion with Dancing Rags was a special moment, my first Grade 1. It’s the highlight of my career,” he said. “I just [want to] keep working hard and keep winning races.”

Notes: There will be carryovers of $2,169.27 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 (Races 5-10) and $1,100.91 in the $1 Jackpot Super High Five (Race 6) when the fall meet resumes Friday, Sept. 13 with a 10-race program that begins at 12:25 p.m.