The connections of Rodriguez are hoping they have a case of "like father, like son" on their hands.
In some important ways, the 3-year-old colt is much like his sire, Authentic .
"Rodriguez was immature, just like his sire," said Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the trainer of both Authentic, the 2020 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner and Horse of the Year, and Rodriguez. "Then Authentic came around and found himself."
It was back in the pandemic-marred racing season of 2020 when Authentic came of age in the summer and won the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby and then the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) in the fall.
The temperatures were vastly different this time, but the same scenario could be happening again as Rodriguez, from the first crop of Authentic, realized all of his potential at a highly opportune time in cruising to a front-running 3 1/2-length victory over Grande in the 100th edition of the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) April 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack to secure a spot in the Kentucky Derby field.
"We're not looking for points. We're looking for horses who can win the Kentucky Derby and that was pretty awesome. Very impressive," Baffert said by phone from California. "This is what we have been looking for from him."
Owned by bulky ownership group of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan, Rodriguez picked up 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and is safely in the field with 121.25 points.
SF Racing, Madaket, and Starlight were also involved in the ownership of Authentic.
"When they start going a mile and an eighth, that's when they separate themselves and that's what he did," said Baffert, who will be returning to the May 3 opening leg of the Triple Crown at Churchill Downs for the first time since 2021. "It was serious time and I'm pretty excited about it."
The final time of 1:48.15 for the 1 1/8-mile race was the second fastest since 2006 behind only Mo Donegal 's 1:47.96 in 2022.
The $750,000 Wood also likely vaulted Grande into the Run for the Roses, as his runner-up finish accounted for 50 points which, judging by past history, should be enough to crack the field of 20. Owned by Repole Stable, it was just the third career start and stakes debut for the son of Curlin , who lost ground when he was five wide on the first turn, and rallied from seventh in the field of 10 to gain the place by 1 3/4 lengths over Calumet Farm's Passion Rules (25 points) and jockey Kendrick Carmouche, who earlier in the card won his 4,000th race.
"It was a solid effort," trainer Todd Pletcher said about Grande, who was 2-for-2 with allowance optional claimer and maiden wins. "We didn't get a good trip going into the first turn. He had to check on heels and advanced down the backstretch while well out in the track and stayed on gamely. I thought it was a good performance for his third start. We went the farthest distance for sure."
St. Elias Stable's Withers Stakes winner Captain Cook was a disappointing fourth as the 9-5 favorite after chasing Rodriguez early. With at least 40 points needed to have a realistic shot at running in the Kentucky Derby, the son of Practical Joke picked up 15 points and has only 35.
"He was outrun," trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. said. "It looked like he had dead aim on everything the whole way and it didn't work out."
Bred by Kingswood Farm and David Egan out of the Cherokee Run mare Cayala, Rodriguez was bought for $485,000 from the Indian Creek consignment at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Never worse than third in four career starts prior to the Wood, he was second to 2-year-old champion male and stablemate Citizen Bull in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) and most recently third behind Journalism in the San Felipe Stakes (G2), both at Santa Anita Park.
Breaking from the rail under Mike Smith, Rodriguez shot out for the lead in the Wood and led by about a length over Captain Cook through fractions of :23.31 and :47.44. Captain Cook chased in second until the top of the stretch when second choice Rodriguez ($9.30) surged to a four-length lead in midstretch and Grande and Passion Rules passed the tiring favorite.
Rodriguez completed his final furlong in a brisk :12.47.
"I took the blinkers off him and he relaxed," Baffert said. "He warmed up nice and Mike did a fantastic job with him. That's the perfect kind of horse for him. He gets those kind of horses to relax really well."
Rodriguez is the seventh and most recent foal from Cayala and her third stakes winner. He is a half brother to grade 3 winner One Liner, stakes winner Provocateur , and stakes-placed Roderick, all by Authentic's sire Into Mischief .
With racing at Keeneland and Oaklawn Park canceled Saturday, the all-sources handle for the card at Aqueduct was a Wood Memorial Day record $23,250,478.
