By Steve Sherack
Rodriguez (Authentic) was hustled to the front from his rail draw by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, and cruised to a 3 1/2-length victory over Grande (Curlin) in Saturday's 100th running of the GII Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to Passion Rules (Friesan Fire) in third. The Bob Baffert-trained 'TDN Rising Star' earned 100 points on the road to the GI Kentucky Derby for the victory.
Rodriguez led through fractions of :23.31 and :47.44, began to shake clear from favored 'Rising Star' Captain Cook (Practical Joke) at the top of the stretch and kept on powering down the lane to punch his ticket to Louisville.
A runaway wire-to-wire winner while making his two-turn debut at second asking at Santa Anita Jan. 4, Rodriguez chased his champion stablemate Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) around the track en route to a second-place finish in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. Feb. 1. He sat a similar trip and faded to a distant third in the GII San Felipe S. Mar. 1. Baffert took the blinkers off for the Wood.
“He'd been training like he was going to do something like that,” Baffert said. “I've always been very high on him. He's just had some rough trips here in California. I knew the added distance would be a big factor for him. I thought he'd love stretching out and going a mile and an eighth.”
Baffert continued, “Mike Smith told me he wanted a super live one and I said, 'Man, I've got a good one for you.' He rode him beautifully. The horse looked great–he looked like Authentic. He won like a good horse. It was very impressive.”
The $485,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase is campaigned in partnership by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan.
“His last two works were really strong here so I felt really good as long as he didn't get too worked up, he'd be good,” Baffert said. “I think with taking the blinkers off, he relaxed a lot better. It was just a beautiful run and I'm just happy and blessed to have a horse like that.
“Any time you win in New York it means a lot. I have great memories of winning the Wood [Bob and John, 2006; Congaree, 2001]. It's a very important race. Just knowing that you have a horse that looks like he's a serious Derby contender makes it that much better. We're all pretty excited and I'm really happy for our ownership group.”
Pedigree Notes:
Rodriguez is the first graded winner for the Baffert-trained sophomore sire Authentic, who captured the postponed 2020 Kentucky Derby and the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. The winning Cherokee Run mare and fantastic producer Cayala is also responsible for GSW One Liner (Into Mischief), MSW & GISP Provocateur (Into Mischief); and SP Roderick (Into Mischief). She was bred to Authentic for 2025. This is the extended female family of GISWs Albertus Maximus (Albert the Great) and Daredevil (More Than Ready).
Saturday, Aqueduct
WOOD MEMORIAL S. PRESENTED BY RESORTS WORLD CASINO-GII, $750,000, Aqueduct, 4-5, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:48.15, ft.
1–RODRIGUEZ, 123, c, 3, by Authentic
1st Dam: Cayala, by Cherokee Run
2nd Dam: Chasethegold, by Touch Gold
3rd Dam: Chasethewildwind, by Forty Niner
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. 'TDN Rising Star'. ($485,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-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; B-Kingswood Farm & David Egan (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Mike E. Smith. $400,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-2-1, $522,800. *1/2 to Roderick (Into Mischief), SP, $187,530, Provocateur (Into Mischief), MSW & GISP, $249,005 and One Liner (Into Mischief), GSW, $475,250. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Grande, 123, c, 3, Curlin–Journey Home, by War Front. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($300,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable; B-KatieRich Farms (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $140,000.
3–Passion Rules, 123, c, 3, Friesan Fire–Goodnight Angel, by Touch Gold. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($40,000 Ylg '23 EASOCT). O-Calumet Farm; B-Charles McGinnes (MD); T-Brad H. Cox. $75,000.
Margins: 3HF, 1 3/4, 1HF. Odds: 3.65, 4.00, 9.60.
Also Ran: Captain Cook, McAfee, Sand Devil, Tiger Twenty Four, Statesman, Omaha Omaha, My Mitole. Scratched: Bear Claw Necklace, Hill Road.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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
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