Recent times have been difficult for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, but there was a much different feeling Feb. 6 as he watched the stretch run of the $200,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Rodriguez, who served a provisional suspension from the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority from Dec. 16, 2025, to Jan. 14, was all smiles as the New York-bred Talk to Me Jimmy pulled away with ease in the final furlongs to post an 11-length victory Feb. 6 in the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Derby (G1) prep race for 3-year-olds.
"I'm very thankful the owners have been so patient. It was a difficult situation. I think I was doing the right things. That's all I know. Taking care of the horses. I told the owners, they could move their horses if they wanted to. But they kept the horses with me. I think the time off helped (Talk to Me Jimmy) a lot. So thank God, things happen for a reason and they worked out well," said Rodriguez, whose suspension was lifted after he agreed to revamp some of his training methods and make a $10,000 donation to an aftercare program.
Owned by SEI Thoroughbreds and Rodriguez, Talk to Me Jimmy ($26.54) picked up 20 points towards a start in the Kentucky Derby after covering the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.68. The Withers was held six days later than its original scheduled date of Jan. 31 due to winter weather and frigid temperatures.
After finishing third in his Sept. 26 debut, Rodriguez equipped the son of Modernist with blinkers and was rewarded with a 5 1/2-length front-running victory in a Nov. 9 state-bred maiden race at a mile.
Once the suspension was lifted, a big jump into a Kentucky Derby prep became the target.
"He doesn't know he's a state-bred," Rodriguez said.
That speed was on display in the Withers as he led narrowly in the early stages through fractions of :23.96 and :48.18. Though challenged by 3-2 favorite Schoolyardsuperman, he extended the lead to 3 lengths after 6 furlongs in 1:12.47 and then surged under Ruben Silvera to a 6 1/2-length lead at the eighth pole.
Rodriguez said Talk to Me Jimmy would now be pointed to the April 4 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) .
"He did grab himself a little (on the right front quarter). I don't know how bad it is yet, but we'll take a look and clean him up," Rodriguez said. "Thank God we saw it. We'll get it in hot water and Epsom salts and take care of it."
Repole Stable's Grittiness, a maiden, rallied from last to take second in the field of seven. The son of Curlin trained by Todd Pletcher picked up 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and now has 11.
Three Chimneys Farm's Ottinho, a son of Quality Road and half brother to Gun Runner trained by Chad Brown, was a half-length back in third and gained 6 points.
Bred by Majestic View Farms International out of the Trippi mare Prairie Trip, Talk to Me Jimmy was bought for $31,000 from the Vinery Sales consignment at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Talk to Me Jimmy is the first stakes winner for Modernist, who won a division of the Risen Star Stakes (G2) in 2020 and the 2021 Excelsior Stakes (G3), and placed in three other graded stakes while racing from 2 to 4, earning $576,300. The son of the late Uncle Mo stands at Darby Dan Farm near Lexington for a listed fee of $5,000.
Friday card features five stakes
Friday's card was loaded with five ungraded stakes due to the recent spate of cancellations at the Big A.
Repole Stable's Be You sat comfortably off the pace along the inside then tipped out and took command in the final furlong to take the $150,000 Toboggan Stakes at 7 furlongs.
The grade 1-placed 5-year-old Curlin gelding posted his initial stakes win for Pletcher. The 5-2 second choice ($7.16) was timed in 1:23.50.
Pletcher and owner Mike Repole added a second stakes win when grade 3 winner Scalable rallied from fifth in the field of six to post a 2 1/4-length victory in the $135,000 Ladies Stakes for older fillies and mares.
A distant second to Ladies favorite Weigh the Risks in the Dec. 13 Go for Wand Stakes, the daughter of Speightstown ($12.50) was timed in 1:51.32 for the 1 1/8-mile test.
Pacesetting Bernietakescharge was second while Weigh the Risks, the 2-5 favorite, chased in second but came up empty in the stretch and faded to fourth.
EGL-One Racing's Two Bits powered through along the rail and edged Interstatelovesong in a lively stretch duel to prevail by a neck in the $135,000 Ruthless Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Trained by Amelia Green, Two Bits was second in the Busanda Stakes in her previous try. The daughter of American Pharaoh posted a winning time of 1:24.11 for the 7 furlongs.
The 9-10 favorite Shilling tired in the stretch and faded to fourth.
The slate of five stakes started on a tough note for chalk players as 1-9 favorite Lucille Ball broke last in the field of four and finished off the board in the $125,550 Interborough Stakes for older fillies and mares.
Meanwhile, R. T Racing's Just Katherine ($16.76) caught Stonewall Star in the final strides to win by a nose in the 7-furlong sprint.
Just Katherine, a daughter of Justify trained by Jose Jimenez, was timed in 1:24.28.
Racing at Aqueduct has already been canceled for Feb. 7 and 8 due to the cold and will resume Feb. 11.
