Yankees' Elmer Rodriguez has awesome connection to Kentucky Derby winner
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Yankees' Elmer Rodriguez has awesome connection to Kentucky Derby winner originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Elmer Rodriguez made his major league debut on Wednesday, but it wasn't the most stressful part of his week.
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Nope, that came on Saturday as the New York Yankees rookie watched the Kentucky Derby.
He's cousins with jockeys Jose Ortiz and Irad Ortiz Jr.
Jose rode Golden Tempo to an astounding come-from-behind victory.
Irad rode morning favorite Renegade to second place, just behind his brother.
Rodriguez watched as a very proud cousin from afar.
"Rodriguez said he was more nervous for the race than he was for his debut," YES Network's Meredith Marakovits posted Sunday on X. "Added he was so proud of them he started crying after seeing them come in 1&2."
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It was a special day all around at the Derby, where trainer Cherie DeVaux became the first woman to be a victorious trainer in the historic race after preparing Golden Tempo.
And the jockey brothers were another great narrative, and that included this awesome picture:
Brothers Jose and Irad Ortiz share a moment after they finish 1-2 in the Kentucky Derby.❤️ pic.twitter.com/UYioe98oOD
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 3, 2026
Rodriguez is hoping to make a lot more starts in the major leagues, and some of them might include nerve-wracking situations.
But there's something different about rooting on your family, and he learned that Saturday night during the Kentucky Derby.