Manoel R. Cruz Birthdate: May 20, 1970 Birthplace: Ninas Gerais, Brazil Residence: Miami, FL Family: wife, Sirlene and sons, Victor Manoel and Brian

2009 Gulfstream Record

• Popular journeyman earned his way to the Kentucky Derby in 2008 as the regular rider of Hutcheson Stakes winner and Florida Derby runner-up Smooth Air ...
• Cruz has finished among Gulfstream's Top 15 riders each year since 2003. Prior to teaming with Smooth Air, his biggest Gulfstream wins included the 2006 Shirley Jones Handicap on Splendid Blended, the 2007 Sunshine Millions Dash with Storm in May, and with Istan in the Artax Handicap on the 2007 Florida Derby Day program.
• He was the leading rider at the 2006 Calder meet with over 197 wins and in excess of $4 million in earnings.  It was the second straight summer he won 197 times at Calder, the second-best in the track's 35-year history behind Eddie Castro's 214 in 2006.
• He was also the leading rider in 2002 at Tampa Bay Downs and won numerous riding titles and notched over 1,200 victories at Hipodromo Cidade Jardim  in Sao Paulo, Brazil before coming to the United States in 2000.

Other:  Grew up in Brazil riding jumpers on the farm where his father is the assistant trainer for a show and racehorse operation. Rode his first race when he was 15. He graduated at 16 from jockey school, a requirement for all apprentice riders in Brazil.