Recent times have been difficult for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, but there was a much different feeling Feb. 6 as he watched the stretch run of the $200,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct.

Rodriguez, who served a provisional suspension from the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority from Dec. 16, 2025, to Jan. 14, was all smiles as the New York-bred Talk to Me Jimmy pulled away with ease to post an 11-length victory Feb. 6 in the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve prep race for 3-year-olds.

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“I’m very thankful the owners have been so patient. It was a difficult situation. I think I was doing the right things. That’s all I know. Taking care of the horses. I told the owners, they could move their horses if they wanted to. But they kept the horses with me. I think the time off helped [Talk to Me Jimmy] a lot. So, thank God, things happen for a reason and they worked out well,” said Rodriguez, whose suspension was lifted after he agreed to revamp some of his training methods and make a $10,000 donation to an aftercare program.

Owned by SEI Thoroughbreds and Rodriguez, Talk to Me Jimmy ($26.54) picked up 20 points toward a start in the Kentucky Derby after covering the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.68. The Withers was held six days later than its original scheduled date of Jan. 31 due to winter weather and frigid temperatures.

After finishing third in his Sept. 26 debut, Rodriguez equipped the son of Modernist with blinkers and was rewarded with a 5 1/2-length front-running victory in a Nov. 9 state-bred maiden race at a mile.

Once the suspension was lifted, a big jump into a Kentucky Derby prep became the target.

ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD

“He doesn’t know he’s a state-bred,” Rodriguez said.

That speed was on display in the Withers as he led narrowly in the early stages through quarter-mile fractions of :23.96 and :48.18. Though challenged by 3-2 favorite Schoolyardsuperman, he extended the lead to three lengths after six furlongs in 1:12.47 and then surged under Ruben Silvera to a 6 1/2-length lead at the eighth pole.

Rodriguez said Talk to Me Jimmy would now be pointed to the April 4 Wood Memorial Stakes.

Talk to Me Jimmy dominates Withers (Eclipse Sportswire)

“He did grab himself a little [on the right front quarter]. I don’t know how bad it is yet, but we’ll take a look and clean him up,” Rodriguez said. “Thank God we saw it. We’ll get it in hot water and Epsom salts and take care of it.”

Repole Stable’s Grittiness, a maiden, rallied from last to take second in the field of seven. The son of Curlin trained by Todd Pletcher picked up 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and now has 11.

Three Chimneys Farm’s Ottinho, a son of Quality Road and half-brother to 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner trained by Chad Brown, was a half-length back in third and gained six points.

Bred by Majestic View Farms International out of the Trippi mare Prairie Trip, Talk to Me Jimmy was bought for $31,000 from the Vinery Sales consignment at the 2024 Keeneland September yearling Sale.

Talk to Me Jimmy is the first stakes winner for Modernist, who won a division of the Risen Star Stakes in 2020 and earned $576,300.