Puerto Rico Native Clinches Winter Heritage Meet Title
LAUREL, MD – With two racing days left in the calendar year-opening Heritage Meet, jockey Jaime Rodriguez further cemented his hold as leading rider with a four-win afternoon Sunday at Laurel Park.
Rodriguez, 32, finished first with Black Ice ($3.60) in Race 4, Dust Devil ($3.60) in Race 5, Lady Zeta ($3.40) in Race 8 and The Judge and Jury ($9.60) in Race 9 to give him 46 wins for meet, 18 more than runner-up Jeiron Barbosa, who won twice Sunday.
“It was an amazing day. Everything was working,” Rodriguez said. “Everything was coming out right and the horses were running for me today.”
All four wins came for Jamie Ness, who moved ahead of Brittany Russell, 26-23, in the race for leading trainer. Rodriguez and Ness have combined to go 24-for-83 during the Heritage Meet (29 percent).
“I have to thank all the owners and trainers that help me,” Rodriguez said. “All the hard rides I give to Jamie Ness I’m going to give all my horses, whoever puts me on. We’re going to keep working.”
Rodriguez captured three meet titles in Maryland last year and finished leading all jockeys in wins at Laurel and historic Pimlico Race Course in 2023. He opened 2024 with three consecutive hat tricks Jan. 5-7 and has recorded 12 multi-win days including six with three or more.
A native of Puerto Rico, Rodriguez also leads the Hertiage Meet with more than $1.6 million in purse earnings. The three-time defending champion at Delaware Park let a career high with 1,102 starters and $8.2 million in purse earnings, also ranking seventh nationally with 237 wins.
Four of Rodriguez’s Heritage Meet wins have come in stakes – the Miracle Wood with Speedyness and Nellie Morse with Charming Way for Ness; Wide Country with Miss Harriett for trainer Brandon McFarlane and Not For Love with Miss Harriett for trainer Gary Capuano.
Speedyness came back and ran third behind Copper Tax and Inveigled in Saturday’s Private Terms, his first try around two turns.
“Speedyness ran huge yesterday. It was the big test, if he can go two turns, and he battled all the way to the end. I’m really happy with the way he ran. Hopefully he keeps getting better and better,” Rodriguez said. “The two horses that beat him have been running with tough horses. I’m pretty proud for him the way he ran.”
Notes: Jockey Jeiron Barbosa doubled on Petingas Twin ($2.80) in Race 3 and Concrete Faze ($9.80) in Race 6 … The final weekend of the Heritage Meet kicks off Friday, March 29 with carryovers of $13,079.21 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 (Races 5-10) and $9,690.97 in the $1 Jackpot Super High Five (Race 6) wagers.