In his second year competing at Tampa Bay Downs, Israel Rodriguez has yet to replicate the success he enjoyed last season, where he notched 57 victories and finished fourth in the standings at Presque Isle Downs. However, the 30-year-old jockey from San Juan, Puerto Rico, remains optimistic that with continued consistency, his breakthrough moment is on the horizon.
“I’m giving my best effort every day,” said Rodriguez, who recently tied for sixth place with 12 wins and earned the title of Martin’s Italian Jockey of the Month. “All the jockeys here are competing for the same goals. There are many talented riders, so I’m putting in extra work in morning workouts to get my name out there.”
Even though he rides without the support of an agent, Rodriguez tied for 12th in the Tampa Bay Downs standings last year with 23 wins. Now partnered with trainer John Moran, he is on track to surpass that figure comfortably this season. Rodriguez’s career-best came in 2025 when he recorded 81 wins.
Maintaining focus is a constant challenge for any jockey. Rodriguez and his wife Valeria Rosa have a 5-month-old son, Noah, which means sacrifices like limited sleep are part of everyday life. Valeria also works, and on the rare Thursday racing card, fellow jockey and good friend Pablo Morales, who finished after the third race, kindly offered to watch their son for a few hours.
Rodriguez is also a father to two older sons, Jared, 11, and Ynael, 4, who live in Puerto Rico. While relatively new to Oldsmar Oval, Rodriguez has been racing since 2014, beginning his career at Camarero Race Track in Canóvanas, Puerto Rico. He captured three graded stakes wins there in 2017 and 2018 and had already made an impression in the United States.
Shortly after turning 19, he won the New York Stallion Series Stakes at Aqueduct aboard trainer Ken McPeek’s 2-year-old colt Chasing Bubbles. More recently, Rodriguez has worked closely with trainer Kevin Rice at Tampa Bay Downs and Presque Isle Downs. Together, they scored a notable victory in the Satin Race Stakes last August with the 4-year-old mare Ms. Tart. New opportunities continue to arise, and Rodriguez is committed to capitalizing on them.
“Everyone is waiting for their moment. Until then, you have to stay dedicated. You can’t dwell on the past—you just keep moving forward, day by day,” Rodriguez said. “I like it here, and I like everyone. I’m lucky to ride for John Moran, and I’m happy because I’m winning races. I feel comfortable here, and I want to keep working hard because I know my time will come.”
This story originally appeared in the News section of the Paulick Report on February 5, 2026. Click here to add the Paulick Report as your preferred news source.
Fan Take: Israel Rodriguez’s journey highlights the perseverance and dedication required to succeed in horse racing, reminding fans that every season brings new talent rising through the ranks. His progress at Tampa Bay Downs could signal the arrival of another top jockey, which promises exciting competition and storylines for the sport’s future.
