Belmont Park
Cruz takes Aqueduct title as apprentice
NYRA Jockey Angel Cruz escaped injury after being involved in a spill Thursday at Aqueduct.
It is rare when an apprentice jockey wins a riding title on this circuit, but five-pound apprentice Angel Cruz did just that, taking the Aqueduct spring meet crown with 22 wins from 93 mounts.
He finished two wins in front of Irad Ortiz Jr., who went 20 for 76. Manny Franco (19 for 107), Jose Ortiz (18 for 82), and Cornelio Velasquez (14 for 92) rounded out the top five.
◗ With Larry Collmus in Louisville for Kentucky Derby week, the races during Belmont’s opening week will be called by John Imbriale.