For the past five years, jockey Jaime Rodriguez has been a force across the Mid-Atlantic, dominating the standings at both Delaware Park and Laurel Park. But his rise to the top at Delaware began during one of the most uncertain times in recent history.

“I came to Delaware during COVID in 2020,” Rodriguez recalled. “I was riding at Finger Lakes at the time when everything shut down. I was galloping just a few horses while we waited to see when racing would start again. They kept setting a date, then changing it—one day after another. Finally, I told my wife, ‘If they change it again, I’m heading to Delaware if I can find an agent.”

He found an agent in John Weilbacher, and the duo mounted an impressive assault on the Delaware Park rider standings, registering five consecutive riding titles.

Now he’s taking the next step. Rodriguez has shifted his tack to New York, where he won the Nashua Stakes with My World Nov. 1 at the Big A.

After years of success in Delaware, Rodriguez says the decision to move to the New York circuit wasn’t easy, but it felt like the right time to take a new step forward.

“My wife and I were talking, and when the opportunity came, it was like God opened another door,” Rodriguez said. “I wanted to take a shot and prove to myself that I can do it, that I can compete with those guys in New York. I’m really excited about it because that’s where I started as an apprentice back when I was a bug boy. So, I decided to go for it and see what happens.”

Weilbacher said the decision to head to New York wasn’t sudden, and they had already been discussing the possibility of testing the waters there.

“We had talked about maybe trying New York because Laurel’s schedule for the winter looked a little iffy,” Weilbacher explained. “They were talking about maybe running just two days a week, from what we were hearing. We figured, why not give New York a try? He thought that with the purse structure in New York and a couple of top jockeys leaving, and knowing they’ll probably run at least three days a week, it might be the perfect time to take the opportunity. He plans to stay at least through the spring, and who knows, maybe longer if things go well.”

However, while Rodriguez is focused on proving himself on New York’s highly competitive circuit, he says Delaware will always feel like home. And he’s not ruling out a return somewhere down the line.

“I’m leaving Delaware, but that doesn’t mean I left everybody hanging,” Rodriguez said. “I always leave doors open, just in case something happens, I might be back. But right now, I want to prove to myself that I can make it in New York.”

Fortunately, Rodriguez isn’t starting from scratch in New York. As he begins making a name for himself on the circuit, he’s reconnecting with familiar faces from his apprentice years and building new partnerships along the way.

“I already had some connections from when I was there before,” Rodriguez said. “There are a few new trainers I’ve met, and some I rode for this year in New York. And there are others I rode for back when I started down there — that definitely makes the transition a little easier.”

It’s merely the latest step in a lifelong journey for Rodriguez.

“I started riding in Puerto Rico when I was 16 and graduated from the jockey school in 2010,” Rodriguez remembered. “I rode for about four months there before heading to New York for the winter. I was riding at Belmont, Saratoga, and Aqueduct around 2010 through 2012. Then I went down to Florida to try my luck, but things didn’t turn out the way I hoped. I wasn’t getting many mounts.”

Fortunately, Rodriguez connected with people who raced at Finger Lakes around that time. “One guy from New York told me I should give it a shot there,” he explained. “So, I packed up, bought a mobile home, and moved to Finger Lakes. I rode there from 2012 through 2017, then spent some time in Ohio at places like Mahoning, Thistledown, Mountaineer, Belterra, and Presque Isle. I was riding everywhere—back and forth—until I decided to head to Delaware in 2020.”

One phone call began his successful journey at Delaware Park. Rodriguez reached out to some contacts in Delaware and was quickly connected with agent John Weilbacher, who became a key figure in the next chapter of his career.

“They told me they had somebody I could talk to, and that’s how I found John,” Rodríguez said. “He asked when I could be there, and I told him, ‘Anytime — just say the word.’”

Within days, Rodriguez arrived in Delaware, started making the rounds on the backside, and quickly began picking up mounts. He had his first start July 8 and earned his first win, for trainer Andy Simoff, July 11.

“Little by little, I started meeting people, and everything just clicked,” he said. “Then I met guys like Jamie Ness and Anthony Pecoraro, and things really took off. With John’s help, everything went great. I was thrilled. Delaware has been so good to me.”

Rodriguez’s longtime agent, John Weilbacher, says it didn’t take long for people at Delaware Park to realize he was something special.

“He did really well right off the bat,” Weilbacher said. “He’s been the leading rider at Delaware for the last five years, and what’s really cool is that for a couple of those years, he was also the leading rider at Laurel at the same time. That’s tough to do because the schedules overlap so much. We were both proud of that. Being the leading rider at two tracks isn’t easy.”

Second in the rider standings his first year at Delaware, Rodriguez won over 100 races at the track in both 2021 and 2022 en route to winning five consecutive riding titles. He credits much of his success to the relationships he’s built.

“It’s really about teamwork,” Rodriguez said. “We all work together. If something needs fixing, we figure it out together, and when everyone’s pulling the same way, things fall into place. The teamwork and support from everybody — trainers, grooms, exercise riders, my agent — that helps a lot. That’s what helps keep us consistently in the winner’s circle.”

Rodriguez said he approaches every race with a clear plan, shaped by the time he spends getting to know his mounts long before they head to the gate. His mornings on the track often set the tone for his races later in the day.

“When you work that individual horse in the morning, then ride them in the afternoon, you already have an idea of what kind of horse you’re sitting on that particular day and how you’re going to ride,” Rodriguez explained. “I like to handicap at home first, look over what I’m riding, and go in with a plan. Once I get to the room, I’ll handicap again after the scratches to see if I’m going with plan A or plan B. That’s the strategy, and every time, you learn something new.”

Weilbacher says Rodriguez’s success comes from more than just talent. It’s his attitude and work ethic that set him apart.

“He’s super-talented and has a great personality,” Weilbacher said. “People like being around him; he’s always smiling, and he connects well with the trainers and owners. He’s also one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen. Some mornings he’d be breezing horses at Delaware, then we’d jump in the car to head to Laurel Park. I’d drive while he watched replays or studied the form. That’s the kind of dedication he has.”

Weilbacher admits that watching Rodriguez head to New York and work with another agent there wasn’t easy, but says there’s nothing but support for his longtime client and friend.

“We won a ton of races together and made a lot of money — it was a great run,” Weilbacher said. “The door’s always open on my end, and probably for him too, if he ever comes back. You spend that many miles on the road together, and you get to know someone pretty well. We became good friends. But I want him to succeed: he’s got a wife and three kids, and he deserves every bit of it. He was the best jockey I ever had, but he’s not just a great rider, he’s a great person and a real family man. You want to root for guys like that.”