Mi Patria Racing’s 4-year-old Maryland-bred filly Molly of Stratford swept to the lead leaving the far turn and powered through the stretch to give jockey Angel Cruz his 1,000^th career victory Sunday at Laurel Park.

Molly of Stratford ($17.40) completed six furlongs over a fast main track in 1:13.36 to earn her second win by four lengths in the lifetime claiming event for fillies and mares 3 and up which had never won two races.

Trained by Rudy Sanchez-Salomon, Molly of Stratford was hustled to a prompting spot by Cruz behind favored pacesetter Storm Rate through an opening quarter-mile in 23.88 seconds. Molly of Stratford moved to even terms after a half in 47.41, then straightened for home in front before sprinting clear.

It was the third win of Laurel’s calendar year-ending fall meet for Cruz after scoring a pair of victories on Saturday’s opening day program.

“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.”

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