The connections of Rodriguez Hope you have a case of “Like Father, Like Son” in your hands.
In a way, the 3-year-old Colt is similar to his father, True .
“Rodriguez was immature, just like his father,” said Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the coach of True, the winner of the Kentucky Derby (G1) 2020 and Rodriguez. “Then True came over and found himself.”
It was back in the Pandemie-Magen racing season from 2020 when True grew up in summer and won the Kentucky Derby and then the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) in autumn.
The temperatures were very different this time, but the same scenario could happen again as Rodriguez, from the first harvest of the real harvest Grande In the 100th edition of the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) on April 5 at Aqueduct racing route Secure a place in the Kentucky Derby field.
Register Bloodhorse Daily
“We are not looking for points. We are looking for horses that can win the Kentucky Derby, and that was pretty great. Very impressive,” said Baffert from California by phone. “We were looking for that from him.”
Ownership of the bulky owner group of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket, Stonestreet, Dianne Bashor, Determined stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan, Rodriguez won 100 Kentucky Derby qualification and is with 121.25 points secure.
SF Racing, Madaket and Starlight were also involved in the possession of True.
“If you start making a mile and a eighth place, you separate yourself and he did that,” said Baffert, who will return to May 3. Churchill Downs For the first time since 2021: “It was a solemn time and I'm pretty excited about it.”
The last time of 1: 48.15 for the 1 1/8 mile race has been the second fastest since 2006 behind only behind it Mo Donegal 'S 1: 47.96 in 2022.
The 750,000 dollar wood probably also divided Grande into the barrel for the roses, as its runner-up 50 points is what should be enough to crack the field of 20. In possession of Reppole Stable, it was only the third career start and a debut for the son of Curlin who lost the ground when he was five in the first round and gathered by the seventh on the field of 10 to win the place with 1 3/4 length over Calumet Farm Side passionate (25 points) and Jockey Kendrick Carmouche, which used to be 4,000 on the map. Race won.
“It was a solid exertion,” said coach Todd Platcher about Grande, who was 2-opposite 2-approval of optional applicants and Maiden victories. “We didn't go a good trip to the first round. He had to look on the heels and went down the background while he was well outside in the route, and I thought it was playful. I thought it was a good performance for his third start. We were sure to go the broadest distance.”
Stable Stable's Withers Stakes winner Captain Cook was a disappointing fourth than 9-5 favorites after hunting Rodriguez early. With at least 40 points, a realistic shot had to be run in the Kentucky Derby, the son of Scrap 15 points collected and only 35.
“He was no longer,” said coach Rick Dutrow Jr. “It looked as if he had dead destination on the whole way and it didn't work.”
Redged from Kingswood Farm and David Egan from the Cherokee run mare Cayala Rodriguez was bought for 485,000 US dollars from the Indian Creek show at Keeland September -Sales from Keeneland 2023. Never worse than the third in four career starts in front of the wood, he was the second to 2-year-old champion male and stare data Citizen Bull In the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) and finally third behind it journalism in the San Felipe Stakes (G2), both at Santa Anita Park.
Rodriguez broke out of the rail under Mike Smith and shot into the wood for the tour. Captain Cook pursued the second to the top of the route when Rodriguez ($ 9.30) in Midtretch and Grande took a four-length lead and passed passion to the exhausting favorites.
Rodriguez completed his last furlong in a lively: 12.47.
“I took the indicators from him and he relaxed,” said Baffert. “He warmed up and Mike did a fantastic job with him. This is the perfect kind of horse for him. He gets this kind of horses to relax really well.”
Rodriguez leads the field for the Wood Memorial Stakes into the lane
Rodriguez is the seventh and youngest foal of Cayala and her third winner. He is a half -brother of winning 3 class 3 A liner Stakes winner Provocateur and placed on the poles Roderick Everything from True's father In mischief .
With racing Keeneland And Oaklawn Park On Saturday, the all-sources handle for the map in the aqueduct canceled a Wood Memorial Day record 23,250,478.
