Rudy Rodriguez has been sending out winners at a heady clip since he began training in 2010 and comes into the Friday card at Aqueduct one shy of his 1,000th victory. Yet he is anything but an overnight success story. After immigrating to the United States from his native Mexico in 1988, Rodriguez’s first job came in the groves and fields of Florida. On the advice of his brother Jesus, he came to the racetrack and took a job as a hotwalker. “I spent one season picking oranges, cucumbers, whatever they had,” he said. In 1992, and by then in New York, Rodriguez became a jockey. He rode in 502 races that year, winning 34 (6 percent). Over the next 18 years and 3,900 mounts, his win average stayed relatively the same. “I liked riding very much,” said Rodriguez, 45. “But there were so many top jockeys in New York.” During his years in the saddle, Rodriguez paid attention to what was going on around him and picked the minds of trainers Richard Dutrow Sr., his son Rick, Joe Aquilino, and Bobby Frankel. “I breezed horses 10 years for Dutrow Sr.,” Rodriguez said. “I was with Aquilino for a year when he had Paraneck Stable for Ernie Paragallo, and I worked for Bobby three or four years. I learned a lot from the Dutrows and Bobby. I would ask questions, and they would explain things to me. I think they liked me because I worked hard and was happy to be part of the team.” As a trainer, Rodriguez has won at a 20 percent clip. He is on his way to his 10th meet training title in New York, nine of which have come at the Big A. Rodriguez’s biggest wins include back-to-back runnings of the Grade 1 Carter in 2014-15 with Dads Caps; the Grade 1 Spinaway in 2014 with Condo Commando and last year with Lady Ivanka; and the Grade 2 Jerome, Grade 3 Gotham, and Grade 2 Kelso with Vyjack. In late 2013, he claimed the filly Belle Gallantey for $35,000 at Aqueduct, and within nine months had sent her out to win the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap and Grade 1 Beldame. Despite those major successes, Rodriguez is best known as an expert horse trader. His bread and butter is the horses he takes and loses through the claim box. “Dutrow Sr. would put the horses where they could win, and that is what I try to do, too,” Rodriguez said. “I try to do right by the horse.” Rodriguez said he has not been counting down to his 1,000th victory. “I don’t pay attention to how many races I win,” he said. “I just want to keep winning. I give credit to everyone who works for me. My people have stayed with me. Everyone works hard and pays good attention to their horses.” In 2009, Rodriguez was not looking to make a career change, but his bother Gustavo kept pushing him to become a trainer. Gustavo was doubling as an assistant trainer in the morning and working in the racetrack parking lot during the afternoon. “I really didn’t want to do it, but Gustavo kept saying, ‘I think we can,’ ” Rodriguez said. “He thought we were ready.” Rodriguez still breezes horses in the morning and has close to 90 under his care. He runs the Aqueduct barn, and Gustavo is in charge at Belmont. Rodriguez’s 20-year-old son, Rudy Jr., also is part of the operation. Rodriguez met a number of his owners through the Dutrows. He said Steve Speranza was the first to give him an opportunity. Michael Dubb, a leading owner in New York, also has been there from the start. His clients include Michael Imperio, Jimmy Riccio, and Vincent Scuderi. “I thank the owners for trusting me and putting their horses with me,” Rodriguez said. “I have been very lucky, very blessed.” Rodriguez has horses in races 7, 8, and 9 at Aqueduct on Friday. If he doesn’t score his milestone win then, he figures to be loaded for the New York Claiming Championships on Saturday.