Apprentice Cruz Brings Home Two Longshots Saturday

Apprentice jockey John Cruz brought home two longshots during Saturday's 11-race program at Gulfstream Park, each paying more than $100.

Cruz, a native of Caguas, Puerto Rico who won his first race April 30 at Gulfstream, started his day by winning the second race aboard Giant Cat. Owned by De Luca and Sons Stable and trained by Luis Olivares, Giant Cat went off at $64.80-1 and returned $131.60. The $1 trifecta (3-7-4) returned $13,215.70 while the 10-cent superfecta (3-7-4-13) paid $2,977.80.

Cruz came back in the sixth race to win aboard Santa Rosa Racing Stable's Bella Nusta. Trained by Enrique Sanchez and off at odds of $82.10-1, Cruz and Bella Nusta led throughout and held on to win over Post Script by a half length. Bella Nusta returned $166.20. The $1 trifecta (10-16-1) returned $3,684.80.   

Zayat Stable's Sakara, a debut winner for trainer Rudy Rodriguez in October at the Meadowlands, and Little Dreams Racing's and Stephen Screnci's Little Mo, a debut winner in November at Gulfstream Park West, lead a field of 13 2-year-olds Sunday in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming event over the turf.

Little Mo, by Eclipse Award 2-year-old champion Uncle Mo, won over a 7 1/2-furlong turf course first time out while Sakara, a son of Pioneerof the Nile, won over a mile turf course.

Gulfstream's 11-race program will have a first race post time of 12:35 p.m.