ARCADIA, Calif. - When Rodriguez won the Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct on April 5, Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith found the colt eager to continue after the finish.
“I love that when I pulled him up the outrider had to get me,” Smith recalled on Sunday morning. “It was easy for him, the first time going a mile and an eighth.”
Something similar happened at Santa Anita on Sunday in an early morning workout. Rodriguez worked five furlongs in 1:00 and showed ample energy while galloping out around the first turn.
“He cruised around there,” Smith said, watching from the stands.
Rodriguez, trained by Bob Baffert, worked alone. Baffert described the workout as “very professional.”
:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2025: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more
Smith will ride Rodriguez in the Grade 1, $5 million Kentucky Derby at 1 1/4 miles at Churchill Downs on May 3. Sunday’s workout was the last at Santa Anita for Rodriguez, who is scheduled to be flown to Kentucky this week.
Smith, who has won the Kentucky Derby twice, most recently aboard Justify in 2018, rode Rodriguez for the first time in the Wood Memorial. Rodriguez led throughout to win by 3 1/2 lengths, his first stakes win in his fifth start.
“He could have gone another eighth of a mile that day,” Smith said. “He won really well. He relaxed good. He had to win to be a contender and he did that impressively.”
Rodriguez will race near the front in the Kentucky Derby, and could be a danger in that position, according to Smith.
“If they want to be in front of him, they’ll have to run to get it,” Smith said.
While Rodriguez is assured of a berth in the 20-horse field in the Kentucky Derby, the waiting game continues for the people behind Baeza, who was second in the Santa Anita Derby on April 5.
Baeza ranks 23rd in the point standings for the Kentucky Derby, and will need a few defections to be certain of a starting berth.
Baeza is being prepared as if he will start in the Kentucky Derby. On Sunday at Santa Anita, Baeza worked seven furlongs in 1:28 in company with stablemate Atitlan, the winner of the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf on March 22. Atitlan was timed in 1:28.20.
Baeza started slightly behind and to the outside of Atitlan, and was alongside at the end of the backstretch. Trainer John Shirreffs timed Baeza in 11.80 seconds through the final furlong.
“I especially liked the way he finished and, once again, how light he is on his feet,” Shirreffs said.
Shirreffs said a slower time for the workout was not a concern.
“He only ran 15 days ago,” Shirreffs said. “It was not a big deal.”
Waiting to learn if Baeza will gain a starting berth is more of a frustration, Shirreffs said. The race will be drawn on Saturday with as many as four also-eligibles.
“Most of the changes have already happened,” Shirreffs said. “It’s a question of whether there are defections between now and May 3.”
Should Baeza fail to draw into the Kentucky Derby he will be pointed to the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 17, Shirreffs said.
Baeza will be ridden for the first time by Flavien Prat in the Kentucky Derby, a replacement for Hector Berrios, who was aboard the colt for three of his four starts.
Berrios worked Baeza on Sunday.
“That was nice of Hector,” Shirreffs said.
Also on Sunday, the highly rated 3-year-old Cornucopian worked a half-mile in 47.40 seconds for Baffert. Cornucopian won his debut in a six-furlong maiden race at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 23, and was fourth of nine in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby there on March 29 in his second start after setting a quick early pace.
Later on Sunday morning, Baffert did not state a race goal for Cornucopian.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.