Trainer Abel Ramirez-Rodriguez has a lot at stake during the final week of the Lone Star Park, which closes Sunday.
Ramirez-Rodriguez, 45, is battling Lone Star’s all-time leading trainer, Steve Asmussen, for the title. It would be a first for Ramirez-Rodriguez, who began training on his own last August after serving as a longtime assistant to trainer Karl Broberg.
“We’re trying to beat the main man at Lone Star,” Ramirez-Rodriguez said. “So, all we can do is just try, just keep trying. We’ve got some live shots this week, but you never know.
“As for right now, all we’re trying to do is enjoy live racing. Just live in the moment, and see what happens. You get beat 80 percent of the time and 20 percent of the time you might win, so it’s just about enjoying it and living in the moment. I’ve got [Broberg] behind me. I’m happy. I’m living the dream.”
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Broberg turned over his operation to Ramirez-Rodriguez last year when he decided to step away from training. He remains a primary client for Ramirez-Rodriguez and his End Zone Athletics appears likely to win the Lone Star owner title with 21 wins through Thursday.
As for the training title, Asmussen leads with 30 wins heading into the final three dates of the meet, while Ramirez-Rodriguez has 29.
Ramirez-Rodriguez is a native of Mexico who grew up in racing. His father currently trains Quarter Horses in Mexico.
“I was born around horses,” Ramirez-Rodriguez said. “My dad always bought Quarter Horses. I was the one to break the babies for him, get them ready for my dad. And I used to ride match races when I was 100 pounds. We won a lot of match races in Mexico.”
Ramirez-Rodriguez – who now weighs in at 215 pounds – said his father spent 47 years going back and forth from Mexico to Belmont Park, where he worked for such trainers as Todd Pletcher and the late Christophe Clement.
Ramirez-Rodriguez eventually came to Gulfstream Park, where he worked for trainer Stanley Hough and later, Clement. He also worked at horse auctions, and spent time in New York and Kentucky.
“I learned from the best, from my dad,” he said. “I’ve been lucky to have been around real horsemen, real good people. I’ve been blessed.”
Ramirez-Rodriguez eventually landed in Texas, which led to his connection with Broberg.
“He used to have horses with John Locke, he was the owner,” Ramirez-Rodriguez said. “I worked for Locke the last six months before he retired. When Karl bought his business, I just started working for Karl.”
Ramirez-Rodriguez was one of Broberg’s assistant trainers during a period when Broberg won six titles as the leading trainer by wins in North America.
The current operation has divisions at Lone Star and Evangeline Downs and will add one at Remington Park for the Oklahoma City meet that opens Aug. 8. The barn also is venturing into Kentucky.
“We shipped some horses to Ellis Park for the first time,” Ramirez-Rodriguez said. “We’re going to have stable at Ellis.”
Ramirez-Rodriguez said he likes being behind the scenes, but went out on his own with the encouragement of Broberg.
“He always tells me, he’s going to help me,” he said. “And I’m happy to be doing what I’m doing right now.”
And just savoring his breakout meet.
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