January 4, 2025 - Santa Anita, Race 2, USD $60,000, 1M
Dam: Cayala , by Cherokee Run
Owner: SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan
Breeder: Kingswood Farm & David Egan (KY)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Newly-turned second season sire Authentic was represented by his first 'TDN Rising Star' Saturday when Rodriguez (c, 3, Authentic-Cayala, by Cherokee Run) opened up on a maiden special weight field at Santa Anita to graduate at second asking.
While only second best behind stablemate and Saturday's GII San Vicente Stakes runner up Romanesque (Practical Joke) in his debut debut going 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar Nov. 23, the 1-5 favorite clearly relished the stretch out to the mile Saturday. Drawn against the rail, he was ridden for the lead by jockey Juan Hernandez and allowed to dictate terms up front with company from Rank (Honor A.P.) who never let the pacesetter get too comfortable up the backstretch. But by midway around the far turn, it was clear Rodriguez had plenty more to offer as he began to shake off that pressure and, by the time he swung past the quarter pole, the race was only for second. Under a hands and heels ride, the 1-5 favorite cruised home a decisive winner to graduate second time out. A strong stretch run got fellow second-time starter Baeza (McKinzie), the younger half-brother to full-siblings Mage (Good Magic) and Dornoch, up for second.
GI Kentucky Derby winner Authentic, a son of Into Mischief, had 24 winners in his first crop led by stakes-winning Power Connection while the $485,000 paid for Rodriguez at Keeneland September in 2023 helped elevate Authentic to leading freshman yearling sire that year. First dam Cayala, though not much of a race mare herself, has outdone herself in her second career-producing seven foals with all seven seeing the winner's circle led by GIII Southwest Stakes winner One Liner (Into Mischief) and MSW/GISP Provocateur (Into Mischief). This is the family of GISW Albertus Maximus (Albert the Great) and late sire and GISW Daredevil (More Than Ready). Rodriguez is his dam's youngest reported offspring as a return cover to Authentic failed to yield a live foal in 2023 and she also failed to produce when bred to both Practical Joke and Life Is Good for 2024. Hope springs eternal however as she is due back to Authentic for a 2025 full-sibling to Rodriguez.
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