Walter Rodriguez. (Coady Photography)
Churchill Downs Press Office
FLORENCE, Ky. – Apprentice rider Walter Rodriguez has been nothing short of dominant throughout the Winter/Spring Meet tallying 44 victories through 42 days of racing. Now, the El Salvador-native not only has his sights on Saturday’s $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade III) but the future beyond his stellar meet at Turfway.
Rodriguez confidently rose the Turfway Park rider standings this meet tabbing victories in the $125,000 Dust Commander Stakes and $125,000 Wishing Well Stakes. Now, with five days remaining at the meet, Rodriguez looks ahead to riding at Keeneland and Churchill Downs.
“It’s been an absolute blessing to have this much success this winter,” Rodriguez said following his opening double Thursday night. “It’s been a lot of hard work to get here but I’m really blessed and looking forward to riding at Keeneland and Churchill after we’re done here.”
Rodriguez, a now five-pound apprentice, began his career in 2022 at Laurel Park where he tallied 11 victories. He added 11 other victories between Penn National, Pimlico and Timonium before shifting his tack to Kentucky in December.
Represented by Cliff Collier, who also books the mounts for Gerardo Corrales, Rodriguez has now amassed 73-career victories from 477 mounts.
Rodriguez’ success at the meet also led him to a mount aboard Event Detail in Saturday’s Jeff Ruby Steaks. Event Detail, a 15- 1 longshot in the Jeff Ruby Steaks, broke his maiden by 2 3⁄4 lengths at Turfway on Jan. 27 and will add blinkers for Saturday’s race.
Aside from his mount in the Jeff Ruby Steaks, Rodriguez will also have the call on Ocean Atlantique in the $300,000 TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic. Rodriguez was aboard Ocean Atlantique in his last start at Turfway when he cruised by 5 1⁄4 lengths in the Dust Commander Stakes.
Even though Rodriguez sat atop the Turfway rider standings, he hasn’t quite clinched the title. Corrales was second in the standings with 39 victories followed by Fernando De La Cruz (34 wins), Luan Machado (29) and Joe Ramos (24).
Racing from Turfway will continue Friday with a first post of 5:55 p.m. (all times Eastern). Saturday’s Jeff Ruby Steaks program will get underway at 12:45 p.m.
The Winter/Spring season at Turfway will close Saturday, April 1.
For more information about racing and gaming from Turfway Park, visit www.Turfway.com.
