Rodriguez flaunts speed winning Wood Memorial; Ballerina d’Oro prevails in Gazelle

Apr 05, 2025 James Scully

Rodriguez (inside) winning the 2025 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct

After showing the way on a short lead, Rodriguez drew off sharply in Saturday’s $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct, booking his spot in a 20-horse Kentucky Derby (G1) field with a 3 1/2-length decision in the major qualifier. Two-time Kentucky Derby winner Mike Smith picked up the mount for six-time Kentucky Derby winner Bob Baffert, and Rodriguez earned his first stakes victory.

He’s led wire-to-wire in a pair of career wins, romping by seven lengths in a maiden tally three starts previously, and gave way readily in the final furlongs after trying to rate in two prior stakes attempts, finishing far back when second in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) and third in the San Felipe (G2).

Rodriguez displayed his best weapon while removing blinkers in the 1 1/8-mile Wood, establishing opening splits in :23.31, :47.44, and 1:11.25 on a short lead while being chased by 9-5 favorite and Withers S. winner Captain Cook. The son of Authentic disposed of that rival while straightening into the stretch, surging to a clear advantage, and Rodriguez rolled home in an excellent 1:48.15, the second-fastest final time in the last 20 years.

Rodriguez ships to New York and goes gate-to-wire in the Wood Memorial, picking up 100 Kentucky Derby points! 🌹

Bob Baffert trains and Mike Smith was in the irons. pic.twitter.com/D1k2GG3zxR

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 5, 2025

A $485,000 yearling purchase, the dark bay colt is campaigned by the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan.

The top five finishers received points on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series event, and Grande rallied from just off the pace to be a clear second in his stakes debut, about two lengths better than Passion Rules, who closed from midpack for third in his first stakes appearance.

Captain Cook retreated to fourth. McAfee wound up fifth and was followed by Sand Devil, Tiger Twenty Four, Statesman, Omaha Omaha, and My Mitole.

Rodriguez is a candidate to bring high speed to the Kentucky Derby, but he’s not the only frontrunning prospect in the Baffert barn.

Rodeo Creek Racing’s Ballerina d’Oro punched her Kentucky Oaks (G1) ticket earlier on the program, gutting out a nose decision in the $200,000 Gazelle (G3). The odds-on favorite rallied from just off the pace to stick a head in front turning for home, but Early On gamely responded along the inside and the runners dueled to the wire in the major qualifier.

Ballerina d’Oro earned her first stakes win in the 1 1/8-event, which awarded 200 total points (100-50-25-15-10 scale) as part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series, and Dylan Davis guided the gray filly. After making her first three starts on turf, the Chad Brown-trained daughter of Medaglia d’Oro switched to the main track with closing second in December’s Demoiselle (G2) at Aqueduct.

She appreciated stretching back to two turns after opening her sophomore season with a third in the Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream Park over a one-turn mile, and Ballerina d’Oro stopped the teletimer in 1:50.67.

100 Kentucky Oaks points for Ballerina d'Oro! 🌸

She takes the G3 Gazelle at Aqueduct under @DavisJockey for trainer Chad Brown! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/uZvEfI7Bej

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 5, 2025

Virginia Oaks runner-up Early On gave a good account of herself in her second stakes attempt, finishing nearly six lengths clear of Deloraine, who held third throughout while never making an impact. It was another 10+ lengths back to pacesetter and 7-2 second choice Vanilla Sundae. Pure Beauty came next in fifth, and Diriyah trailed.

Ballerina d’Oro, whose career record now reads 6-2-1-1, will bring a late kick to the Kentucky Oaks.