‘TDN Rising Star’ Rodriguez Runs Them Off Their Feet In 100th Running Of Wood Memorial

[Wandering Eyes]

Cruising out of the gate and establishing himself as the speed in the 100th running of the GII Wood Memorial Stakes at the Big A, 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic–Cayala, by Cherokee Run) made every pole a winning one and in the process took home 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

With Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith at the controls, the colt–who went off as a 7-2 shot here–blazed out of the blocks and led into the first turn. The 3-year-old continued to carve out the fractions up the backstrecth and around the far turn. Unable to catch him, the field watched as the Bob Baffert trainee sealed the deal. The final running time was 1:48.15, as Grande (Curlin) was the runner-up.

Coming into the Wood, Rodriguez had 21.25 points in his Derby account.

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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