The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has directed trainer Rudy Rodriguez, who recently served a 20-day suspension in New York, to appear before its License Review Committee before he can run his 3-year-old gelding Vyjack in the May 4 Kentucky Derby.
Rodriguez is scheduled to appear Tuesday at the KHRC office in Lexington with three other trainers — Glen Copp, Jeremiah O’Dwyer and Jeffery Scott Raley — none of whom has a Derby horse.
“It’s startling that they would pull out one individual, who has a valid license in New York, and ask him to explain himself,” said Rodriguez’ attorney, Karen Murphy. “To me, it’s very significant that they are singling Rudy out. It’s just plainly wrong. What about all the other Derby trainers that have had positives?”
According to KHRC spokesman Dick Brown, “The licensing committee has the discretion to call before it any applicant, and it has chosen to do so in this case.”