Fresh off his win in the previous race with Heza Hawkeye, German Rodriguez made it a daily double by scoring the victory in the $134,200 Jaguar Rocket Futurity aboard his trainee Lets Get After It. The two-year-old gelding surprised the field with a strong performance on the inside to take home the 23rd title of the long-running stakes race in Indiana.
Lets Get After It was a second place finisher in his trial and in the middle of the pack of the qualifiers into the Jaguar Rocket Futurity Final with the sixth fastest time. However, he was ready to roll when the gate opened. He traveled just off the early pace setter of Queenvn Chic and Fernando Morin before moving up in the final strides, posting the half-length victory at the wire in :18.007. Kiss A Favorite, the quickest in the trials, closed quickly at the end to finish second by a nose for Martin Munoz over Queenvn Chic.
“When he drew the one (post), I was afraid of that,” admitted Rodriguez. “But I knew in the schooling races he (Lets Get After It) ran really good in the one hole. And we drew next to the fast one of Giovanni Vazquez and Jessica Vazquez. Their horse [Cowgirl Beach] is really fast in the beginning so I thought hooking up early, he (Lets Get After It) would be able to run against him. You draw next to a fast one, you wanna run faster. He’s a little Seabiscuit. Put a horse next to him eye to eye and he’s gonna beat them.”
Lets Get After It paid $41.80 for the win. The Indiana bred son of Tarzanito is owned by Brian Chavez, who is in his first season as an owner and earned his first stakes win and only his second career trip to the winner’s circle. Keith Bode bred and raised the gelding, who is out of their mare KT Perry. Earlier in the program, KT Perry had another two-year-old competitor on the card in Too Much Corona 23, also trained by German Rodriguez.
“I’ve always had a lot of confidence in this team,” noted Chavez. “I’m so proud of all of them. I’m at a loss for words right now.”
Chavez was joined by Keith and Rose Bode in the winner’s circle for the post-race interview with Rachel McLaughlin. The Bodes, who have been longtime breeders and supporters of Indiana racing, were thrilled to see one of their babies advance to stakes winning status.
“I’m just amazed,” said Rose Bode. “I’m very proud of Brian and German and so happy for them.”
Keith Bode added, “It is a great pleasure to have this happen. It takes a long time to get going on these, so it’s very rewarding to see this.”
The 23rd season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing runs through Thursday, Nov. 13. For more information on racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing or find details on social media @HSIndyRacing.
