OZONE PARK, N.Y.– Success on the New York Racing Association circuit is a full-circle moment for jockey Jaime Rodriguez. It was in May 2010 that Rodriguez, a native of Puerto Rico, recorded his first career U.S. victory aboard a horse named East to Eden at Belmont Park. Rodriguez, 34, is now up to 2,617 North American wins and has been a leading rider at Finger Lakes, Delaware Park, and the Maryland circuit. Rodriguez had modest success as an apprentice in New York before that fizzled out in 2011-12. From July 2011 through March 2012, Rodriguez went just 5 for 244 at NYRA tracks, including a 0-for-82 spell at the 2011 Belmont fall meet. Rodriguez went to Ocala, Fla., to gallop horses just to make some money. That ultimately led to him meeting some horsemen from Finger Lakes who encouraged Rodriguez to give that circuit a try. From 2012-19, Rodriguez was the leading rider at Finger Lakes five times. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. More recently, Rodriguez has been the leading rider on the Delaware and Maryland circuits. It was in the summer of 2025, after he guided Bellezza to victory in the Grade 2 Flower Bowl for Miguel Clement at Saratoga that Rodriguez sat down with his wife, Amber, to talk about giving the NYRA circuit another try. “She said, ‘Take the shot. I believe in you and you can do it,’ ”Jaime Rodriguez said. “I got the support from the family now I got to keep going.” Rodriguez lives in Delaware with Amber and their three children, ages 3 to 11. Rodriguez picked up John Panagot as his agent. Panagot also represents Manny Franco, NYRA’s leading rider in wins in 2025. “I’m pleasantly surprised how well he’s been received right off the bat,” Panagot said. “He fits in very well, he’s definitely proven that he belongs.” Rodriguez had a strong Aqueduct fall meet, winning 20 races from 148 mounts, to be fifth in the standings. He rode winners for 14 different trainers. Rodriguez has won four races from his first 20 mounts at the 2026 Aqueduct winter meet topped by his victory aboard the 3-year-old My World in the $150,000 Jerome Stakes last Saturday for Brad Cox. He also won the Nashua on My World, who is likely headed to the $200,000 Withers Stakes here on Jan. 31. Rodriguez said it was always his goal to get back to the NYRA circuit. “Through the years, mentally I grew up, I learned a lot,” Rodriguez said. “Let me move on, get more experience, learn more stuff. I went to different tracks. I think with time, getting older, I learned when you get the opportunity, when doors open, you take a shot.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.