Gustavo Rodriguez, out on his own, can claim first training win
ELMONT, N.Y. - Technically, Gustavo Rodriguez had won 18 races as a trainer before Kumar won Sunday’s fourth race at Belmont Park. In reality, though, Sunday's was Rodriguez’s first victory.
Rodriguez, who had served as an assistant to his brother Rudy since the latter became a trainer in 2010, left his brother’s employ about two weeks ago to train on his own. Kumar, a horse Gustavo Rodriguez and his business partner Andrew Gurdon claimed for $30,000 in March 2019, was Rodriguez’s first starter in New York, second overall, since going out on his own.
He rallied wide in the stretch under Joel Rosario to get up by a half-length in a $20,000 claiming race.
“A beautiful feeling,” said Gustavo Rodriguez, who at 50 is one year older than Rudy.
Gustavo Rodriguez had been credited with 18 wins from when he filled in for his brother, who had to serve suspensions in 2012, 2015 and 2016.
Gustavo Rodriguez worked hand-in-hand with Rudy for over a decade. Over time, Gustavo met Gurdon and started claiming horses which Rudy Rodriguez trained. But as Gurdon - and another owner, Brian Novak, - wanted to grow, it became increasingly hard to claim horses with Rudy, who, on many occasions, had other clients wanting to claim the same horses.
So, with a nudge from Gurdon and Novak, Gustavo went out on his own.
“They kind of pushed me," Rodriguez said. “I wanted to do it, too, but after 10 years with Rudy it was tough to leave.”
Gustavo Rodriguez said he has six horses. It was seven but Vip Nation, who finished third in a claimer at Monmouth on June 27, remained at Monmouth with another trainer.