rudy rodriguez | Horse Racing Free Tips

Rodriguez Has Jerome Pencilled In For Notebook Winner Eagle Orb’s Next Start

E.V. Racing's Eagle Orb is training forwardly off a victory in the Notebook on November 14 and the Orb colt could make his next start in the $150,000 Jerome on New Year's Day at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., trainer Rudy Rodriguez said Sunday morning.

The Jerome, for newly minted 3-year-olds going one-mile, is a prep for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 1, offering 10-4-2-1 qualifying points to the top-four finishers.

Eagle Orb tied a personal-best with a 74 Beyer Speed Figure for his 2 3/4-length victory in the Notebook against fellow New York-breds going six furlongs, marking his first stakes win.

Eagle Orb won his debut on August 21 at Saratoga Race Course and stepped up to stakes company to run second to next-out winner Thin White Duke in the Funny Cide on September 4 at the historic track.

Bred by Barry Ostrager, Eagle Orb is 2-2-0 in five career starts and has been breezing at Belmont since the Notebook as he prepares to stretch back out to one mile for the first time since running second to Brooklyn Strong, another next-out winner, in the Sleepy Hollow on October 24 for state-bred juveniles.

Rodriguez said he's confident to see Eagle Orb compete against open company after a successful 2-year-old campaign.

“We want to stretch him out to the Jerome coming up,” Rodriguez said. “He always tries. He shows he can run good, so we want to give him the opportunity to try that. So far, so good. He's doing everything we asked him. He looks pretty good and if he can run well there, we'll have more confidence in him.”

“Right now, his options are open, but we need to keep dreaming. That's what we are here for,” he added.

On Saturday, Yankee Division earned black type in his stakes debut, running third in the Alex M. Robb at the Big A. Competing at the longest distance of his career at 1 1/8 miles for just the second time in 14 starts, the 4-year-old son of Midnight Lute was last-of-six through the opening half-mile before rallying for third under jockey Jorge Vargas, Jr. finishing five lengths back to winner Bankit and runner-up and two-time defending Alex M. Robb-winner Mr. Buff.

Yankee Division, owned by Rodriguez with Michael Imperio and Andrew Gurdon, has registered three consecutive 86 Beyers, including for is win against allowance company on September 28 at Finger Lakes.

“He's looking good; it was a good performance,” Rodriguez said. “It came up a very tough race, but he was impressive. I think the distance was key for him. He's a big horse and he likes to run and run. The only time I tried to run him long before, it was at Finger Lakes and two turns. He was training good heading into the race, so I was happy.”

Rodriguez said he might try to maximize remaining conditions before returning to stakes company in 2021 for his 5-year-old year, but left open the possibility of higher competition for the gelding who was bred in New York by Carolyn Vogel.

Repole Stable's Backsideofthemoon was nominated to the $100,000 Queens County on Saturday, but Rodriguez instead entered him in an allowance optional claiming contest on Thursday in Aqueduct's Race 5.

The gelded son of Malibu Moon will complete his 8-year-old year in the one-mile contest looking to build on his win against optional claimers on November 13 at Aqueduct going 1 1/8 miles in a race that was moved off the turf.

Rodriguez said the veteran of 46 starts is planning to still run as a 9-year-old in 2021 and return to stakes company; a level at which he competed four times this year, including a second in the Jazil in January and third in the Stymie in March at Aqueduct.

“We're just trying to keep him happy and he's a good horse to be around,” Rodriguez said. “He always tries and he has a good body and good size. We nominated him to the [Queens County] because there aren't that many options this time of year, but we think he'll be in a good spot [Thursday] and then we'll see [what next year brings].”

The post Rodriguez Has Jerome Pencilled In For Notebook Winner Eagle Orb’s Next Start appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Malibu Mischief Runs Win Streak To Six With Easy Laurel Park Score

Malibu Mischief, a 4-year-old filly owned and trained by Rudy Rodriguez, extended her win streak to six races in impressive fashion by flirting with a track record in her latest triumph Sunday at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.

Sent off at 1-5 in the third-level optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares 3 and up, Malibu Mischief ($2.60) led every step of the way in overpowering her rivals to win by five lengths under a hand ride from jockey Trevor McCarthy.

The winning time of 1:02.48 over a fast main track was just .28 off the course record of 1:02.20 set by 6-year-old Siralfredthegreat Oct. 6, 2018.

“Rudy said make sure you get her away from there and get her away hard because she loves the lead and she doesn't always get away the best,” McCarthy said. “When we broke so good and we were out there loose, I said, 'Man, she is smoking but she is so comfortable.' She's just got a high cruising speed. I think her performance speaks for itself. She really just kind of kicked away from a good group of horses.”

Breaking from the far outside in a field reduced to five by the early scratch of Charles Town Oaks (G2) winner Fly On Angel, Malibu Mischief rocketed to the front and quickly opened up on her rivals through fractions of 22.44 and 44.73 seconds. I'm the Talent stalked the leader but was unable to keep up and Malibu Mischief rounded the turn well in command and drew off through the stretch with little urging.

“They actually sprung the gate when I was yelling 'No,' and when she saw that latch, she was like, 'See ya,'” McCarthy said. “She's just so fast, and even when I got to a comfortable lead and I just went to go little easier, she wanted to go. I was just trying to keep her happy. When she hit the turn I thought, 'Man, she is rolling,' and every time I tried to just nurse her she was like, 'No, let me go.'”

The win was the second straight at Laurel for Malibu Mischief following a second-level spot going the same distance Oct. 23 originally carded for the turf. The New York-based Rodriguez spent $12,500 to claim the bay daughter of Goldencents who improved to 10-for-22 lifetime.

Malibu Mischief's streak began June 7 at Belmont Park, her first start since being eased March 8 at Aqueduct prior to the pause in racing amid the coronavirus pandemic. Rodriguez haltered her July 10 and has won races at Saratoga, Delaware and two in a row at Laurel by 22 ¼ combined lengths.

“I was worried because last time she broke a step slow, but when she broke on top today I said it looked like we were in pretty good position. That's her weapon and that's what she wants to do,” Rodriguez said. “She's been a nice little claim. The first time we try to claim her she pulled up and they voided the claim. Then I let her go a couple times more and said, 'I'm going to claim her,' and thank God it's working out good.”

Rodriguez said he will keep all options open when seeking a return spot for Malibu Mischief.

“I just wanted to win the starter allowance with her but she did it so good and came back so good out of the race. When I ship her to Delaware she did very, very good so I took her to Laurel and she did even better. Now it looks like she can take a step up,” Rodriguez said. “I have to take a look and see where she fits. It looks like we got a filly with a nice future.”

The post Malibu Mischief Runs Win Streak To Six With Easy Laurel Park Score appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

After ‘False Start,’ Eagle Orb Dominates New York-Breds In Notebook

E.V. Racing Stable's Eagle Orb was anxious to get going, leaving the starting gate early in Saturday's $100,000 Notebook. But after the field re-loaded, the son of Orb settled down, tracked the early speed and finished strong for a 2 3/4-length victory in a stakes for New York-bred juveniles going six furlongs over the main track at Aqueduct in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Eagle Orb, who entered with a pair of runner-up efforts in three stakes appearances for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, was one of four entrants to burst through the gate before the official start. It was a case of no-harm, no-foul, as all seven horses were re-loaded for the start, with Eagle Orb breaking sharp from post 4.

Storm Shooter set the early speed for a tightly bunched pack, going the opening quarter-mile in 23.28 seconds over a track labeled good. Under current meet-leading rider Kendrick Carmouche, Blue Gator, the 7-5 favorite, took command with the half-mile going in 47.26 as Storm Shooter retreated to the back of the pack.

Out of the turn, jockey Manny Franco urged Eagle Orb from the outside, where he overtook Blue Gator and drew away, hitting the wire in 1:11.71 while improving to 2-2-0 in five career starts. Bred by Barry Ostrager, Eagle Orb built on runner-up efforts in Funny Cide going 6 1/2 furlongs on Sept. 4 at Saratoga Race Course and a last-out second in the one-turn mile Sleepy Hollow on Oct. 24 at Belmont Park.

“I think he's a better horse sprinting,” Franco said. “Today, he was in a nice stalking position and when I put him in position, he started going very comfortably and started opening up.”

Cutting back in distance, Eagle Orb won for the first time since a triumphant debut on Aug. 21 at the Spa. Off at 6-1, he returned $12.20 on a $2 win bet and improved his career earnings to $153,100.

“I didn't want to get involved in the speed duel early,” Franco said. “I was trying not to take my horse too far off the pace, but I didn't want to be up there. I wanted to wait behind the speed. My horse settled nice for me and when I put him in the clear, he took me there after that.”

Added Franco on the start: “The horse on the outside of us [Horn of Plenty] was kind of moving around and all the horses broke through the door, that's when it happened.”

Rodriguez praised Eagle Orb's consistent start to his career.

“This horse always shows up. I was a little disappointed why we didn't get the last two wins,” Rodriguez said. “He's been close at Saratoga and at Belmont. He was knocking at the door.”

Three Diamonds Farm's Blue Gator, a stakes winner last out in the New York Breeders' Futurity over a sloppy and sealed Finger Lakes track on Oct. 26, finished 6 1/4 lengths ahead of Market Alert for second for trainer Mike Maker.

“I didn't want him to be that close, but those horses weren't fast enough to beat my horse there, so I was just sitting as long as I could,” Carmouche said. “I asked my horse to run around the turn and at the quarter pole he quickened up, but the other horse quickened faster than me. I thought he ran his race.”

Horn of Plenty, Lookin for Trouble, Storm Shooter and Half Right completed the order of finish.

Live racing resumes on Sunday at the Big A with a 10-race card highlighted by the $100,000 Winter Memories for 3-year-old fillies in Race 9 at 3:47 p.m. Eastern and the $100,000 Key Cents for New York-bred juvenile fillies going six furlongs in Race 2 at 12:22 p.m. First post is 11:50 a.m.

The post After ‘False Start,’ Eagle Orb Dominates New York-Breds In Notebook appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

‘All I Wanted Was A Chance’: 35-Year-Old Apprentice Taking His Shot At Monmouth

At an age when most of those in his profession are already well established, Victor Flores is just starting. But a dream delayed beats one that is not pursued every time in the view of this 35-year-old apprentice jockey.

Flores, who arrived at Monmouth Park from California in early August, will continue to try to make up for lost time – both in his career and this season – with two scheduled mounts on Wednesday's nine-race card that kicks off the final week of the Thoroughbred racing season in New Jersey.

The Meadowlands-at-Monmouth Park meet's closing-day card will be Saturday, Oct. 24.

Flores, who hails from Hidalgo, Mexico, was able to make some inroads at the Monmouth Park meet despite his late arrival. He had a 5-5-4 line from 48 mounts during the meet and has already won a race at the abbreviated Meadowlands-at-Monmouth Park meet.

“I came to Monmouth Park because I thought I could get more opportunities to ride,” said Flores, who spent the first seven months of the year riding in California. “I heard if you work hard the trainers at Monmouth Park will give you a chance. All I wanted was a chance to show what I can do.

“I'm very happy with what I was able to do and I'm grateful to everyone who helped me and gave me a chance and supported me.”

Flores delayed the start of his riding career at first because of college, attending the Autonomous University of Tamaulipas to study animal husbandry.

“In my mind I thought I was going to be a veterinarian,” he said. “My other option was to study the Arts and become an actor.

“After I finished my studies and internships I worked for five years but the work was not enough.”

He then relocated to the United States and took a job in construction and painting in Hilton Head, S.C. and wound up as part of a crew that was sent to California to do a job. It was there, he said, that he saw Hollywood Park Racetrack for the first time. Immediately after his shift was over that day, and bitten by the racetrack bug again, he went to look for a job on the backstretch.

Eventually, the foreman for Jerry Hollendorfer's barn gave him a job galloping horses, which he did for six years. Flores launched his riding career in 2018, doing so without the help of an agent, a challenging endeavor for any jockey. He is now represented by Rudy Rodriguez, Jr.

“I've always loved horses since I was young,” he said. “Once I started galloping them I knew I wanted to be a rider.”

That Flores is still an apprentice after nearly three years of riding is another part of his improbable story. Four months into his riding career he was involved in a spill and suffered a dislocated shoulder that sidelined him for four months. Less than two months after returning he broke his collarbone when the horse he was on went down during a morning work.

“I was wondering `Why me?' ” he said. “Just before that happened, that weekend, I had so many horses (to ride) and several had a chance to win. The falls totaled nine months of me being out.”

Because of the missed time the California Thoroughbred Racing Commission granted him an extension of 219 days to continue as an apprentice. It's the same number of days he was sidelined for.

His apprenticeship was due to expire July 14, 2020 but was extended through Feb. 18, 2021 – or until he wins 40 races.

He currently has 23 career wins.

“I feel like this year I did get the attention of some trainers at Monmouth, even though I wasn't here very long,” he said. “At first I was only riding a few horses a week. Now it seems like I am getting more chances and I am getting them on live shots. Right now, I just want to ride. The more I ride the better I will get. I hope this is just the start for me.”

The post ‘All I Wanted Was A Chance’: 35-Year-Old Apprentice Taking His Shot At Monmouth appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post