Rodriguez continues to storm through meet

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – On the weekend of Jan. 23-24, the New York City area was hit by a storm named Jonas that brought upward of two feet of snow. This past week, Aqueduct was hit by a storm named Rudy, as in trainer Rudy Rodriguez, who won nine of the 13 races in which he participated. He now has 29 victories for the inner-track meet to lead the trainers’ standings by 10 over second-place Linda Rice.

Rodriguez won three races each on Saturday and Sunday, including the Grade 3 Toboggan on Saturday with Sassicaia, who was a last-minute entry into the race. Sassicaia rallied to win the Toboggan by a head over Mewannarose, with even-money favorite Green Gratto finishing a close third.

Sassicaia, who earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure for the Toboggan, appears to thrive with time between races, and the Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool on March 12 might be the next logical spot, though Rodriguez said he needed to talk with owner Robert LaPenta first.

“I know he runs good fresh, so we’ll try and give him the right time, and if he’s good for the Tom Fool, maybe we’ll do that,” Rodriguez said.

On Sunday, Rodriguez finished one-two in the $100,000 Maddie May Stakes, with Frosty Margarita holding off Kipness the Victor by a nose. Though the Maddie May was at a mile and 70 yards, Rodriguez said he likely would cut Frosty Margarita back in distance for her next start. She had won two sprint stakes previously.