Rodriguez's staff 'doing the best we can' amid New York shutdown
{{monthName}} {{day}}, {{year}} {{hour12}}:{{minuteTwoDigit}}{{dayPeriod}}
It was a busy Saturday on the Belmont Park dirt training track
with 314 horses on the work tab led by 12 from the stable of trainer Rudy
Rodriguez, including multiple stakes winner Dream Bigger and
last-out Busher Invitational champ Water White.
Rodriguez and his staff of more than 30 workers oversee the
conditioning of 65 horses across two barns on the Belmont backstretch. The
veteran conditioner said his team is working hard to keep the horses safe and
sound while following the protocols laid out by NYRA's Preparedness and
Response Plan Committee, composed of NYRA staff members and representatives
from the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and the New York Race
Track Chaplaincy of America.
"We have two barns, so we try to keep the horses and staff spread out. We keep everything very clean, follow the guidelines and wash our hands and equipment as much as possible," said Rodriguez. "You have to keep the horses training and healthy. We're doing the best we can with the situation. The horses have to keep moving. They're used to this routine and they're bred to run. If you leave them in the stall, they'll be kicking the walls."
Both Dream Bigger and Water White breezed a half-mile in 51.93 seconds on Saturday on the Belmont training track.
"They both went nice and easy. We had to a little something to keep them fit," said Rodriguez.
Repole Stable's Dream Bigger, a grey son of Mission Impazible bred in the Empire State by Sequel New York, Twin Creeks Racing and Pamela Zielinski, boasts a record of 7-3-3-1. His trio of stakes wins includes scores in the Breeders' Futurity at Finger Lakes and the Notebook and Damon Runyon at Aqueduct Racetrack.
"He always showed a lot of talent. We've been beaten by a couple of nice horses, but he's still learning," said Rodriguez. "In the stretch, he still doesn't want to change leads. Hopefully, as he matures a little bit, that will change with his mentality. I really have to thank Mike Repole for giving us the opportunity to train this kind of horse."
Last out, Dream Bigger returned from a layoff off a third-place finish in the Rego Park and went gate-to-wire under Junior Alvarado for an impressive 7 3/4-length score in the Damon Runyon.
"Freshening him up and giving him a nice eight weeks seemed to do the trick," said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez said he plans to keep Dream Bigger competing in New York-bred stakes events for the time being.
"There's a lot of money in New York-bred races, so we'll try and keep him there. But if he keeps improving, we can take a chance," said Rodriguez. "He's never finished worse than third and he always tries hard. We haven't had the chance to stretch him out to a mile yet."
E.V. Racing Stable's Water White captured a dramatic renewal of the Busher Invitational last out when collaring Kansas Kis in the final stride to win by a nose.
Bred in Kentucky by Richard Forbush, the Conveyance grey graduated in November at Aqueduct before a trio of stakes efforts when fifth in the Grade 2 Demoiselle and second in the Busanda ahead of the Busher effort.
Rodriguez said the sizable filly is maturing rapidly.
"She looks like she's growing," said Rodriguez. "She's put some weight on. It's very encouraging to see the way she's coming around."
With the Kentucky Oaks now moved to September, Rodriguez said he is hoping the talented sophomore will continue to blossom.
"Let's hope so," said Rodriguez. "Right now, she's carrying her flesh very good. She's a big, strong filly."
Read More
Churchill Downs hosts the Grade 3 Commonwealth stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf Saturday, a late-season test...
Zambezi led all performers on Friday with a 141 Horse Racing Nation speed figure at Churchill Downs in a...
The Steel Valley Sprint has been a fount of big prices in its 10 runnings to date, and...
Grade 1 winner Nevada Beach looms large in Saturday’s Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes for 3-year-olds and up...
Courting , who broke his maiden for trainer Todd Pletcher this month in his second try, breezed four...