Nunez, Cruz revisit the win column

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Some racing fans might have thought they were in a time warp Thursday at Gulfstream Park when Eduardo Nunez and Manoel Cruz rode back-to-back winners.

Nunez, 52, who won aboard Alpilles ($5.60) in the sixth race, was winning for the first time in six 2019 mounts after going 6 for 137 last year. Alpilles, trained by Wesley Ward, was his first winner since Dec. 6 at Gulfstream.

Cruz, 48, won the seventh race on Neuqua ($7) for trainer David Hinsley. It was his first victory at Gulfstream since Sept. 29, a span of 61 winless mounts.

Both jockeys now ride races on a relatively infrequent basis, but in their heydays both were among the perennial leaders as longtime regulars at Gulfstream and the old Calder (now Gulfstream West). Nunez has amassed 2,795 career wins in North America and Cruz has 2,838.

Cruz said Friday that age “is not supposed to be” a factor in how a jockey is chosen. “But some think it is.”

Cruz left the South Florida circuit to ride elsewhere for several years, but said he has returned with the intent of rebuilding his business. Both he and Nunez will continue to ride here after the championship meet ends March 31 and many of the top jockeys leave town.

“I can’t wait to be back on the top,” Cruz said. “I have all the young riders look at me and say, ‘Man, you ride like you’re 19.’ But it’s tough when your business is slow. You want to show people you can still do it like you know you can.”