Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Rodriguez

Apr 10, 2025 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Rodriguez wins at Santa Anita. (Photo by Benoit Photo)

SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, et al’s Rodriguez punched his ticket to Louisville following a 3 1/2-length tally in the $750,000 Wood Memorial S. (G2) at Aqueduct on April 5. The Bob Baffert trainee garnered 100 qualifying points on the 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series after clocking 1 1/8 miles on the fast main surface in 1:48.15 under the guidance of Mike Smith.

“I think they realized he just wants to be left alone. I could tell that warming up,” Smith said. “Every time you did something with him, he’d get uptight. That’s just it – if you get him to breathe, he’s gonna run, man, and that’s what he did today.”

Rodriguez is another @KentuckyDerby hopeful in the @BobBaffert stable and he is expected to return this weekend in the San Felipe Stakes @santaanitapark.

Use the link below to add him to your TwinSpires Stable Alerts!

Never Miss A Winner ⤵️ https://t.co/3vWMWX1X5a pic.twitter.com/Ei65Rr1yLB

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 24, 2025

Grande, Passion Rules, Captain Cook, and McAfee rounded out the top five and picked up points on a 50-25-15-10 basis, respectively.

Rodriguez debuted at Del Mar on Nov. 23 and checked in second in a maiden special weight dash. He was stretched out to one-mile at Santa Anita on Jan. 4 and led at every call en route to a dominant, seven-length victory. In his stakes debut on Feb. 1, the sophomore was runner-up to champion Citizen Bull in the Robert B. Lewis S. (G3), and he preceded his run in the Empire State with a third-place result in the San Felipe S. (G2) on March 1. His lifetime line now reads 5-2-2-1, $522,800.

The son of Authentic was bred in the Bluegrass State by David Egan and Kingswood Farm, and the colt brought the gavel down at $485,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is the third black-type star produced from the winning Cherokee Run mare Cayala, being preceded in stakes glory by 2017 Southwest S. (G3) victor One Liner, as well as Grade-1 placed stakes victor Provocateur. This is the same female line as 2009 Donn H. (G1) hero Albertus Maximus.

Rodriguez earned a lifetime best 105 Brisnet Speed number for his Wood victory, which included a strong 101 Late Pace figure, as well. The dark bay colt is finding his best stride leading up to the Run for the Roses, and he has to be viewed as a major contender on the First Saturday in May with any improvement going forward.