Within approximately two months time, native-born Venezuelan Xavier Rodriguez, who now resides in Miami, Florida, has formed quite a partnership between himself, his 4-year-old gelding One Moore Try and trainer Steve Oehlhof. Rodriguez, the gelding, who was bred by Kathleen Moore, of Madill, Oklahoma, and Oehlhof have made their way to the pay window at a number of cuttings.
Rodriguez and One Moore Try drew their first paycheck together at the Breeder’s Invitational, where they placed third in the 4-Year-Old Amateur finals. Oehlhof also qualified the gelding for the 4-Year-Old Open finals and finished 15th at The Non-Pro Aged Event. Rodriguez rode One Moore Try to his first championship title — the 4-Year-Old Amateur — in June at The Non-Pro Aged Event.
They added a second to their bankroll at the Metallic Cat National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Summer Spectacular when they topped the McAlister Assets Derby Unlimited Amateur. The $10,266 check Rodriguez received for his win pushed his lifetime earnings to $33,128, and One Moore Try’s Equi-Stat earnings to $25,684.
Rodriguez said he and Oehlhof, who Rodriguez has been working with since 2018, picked the cattle they wanted to cut during the finals.
“I was waiting to see what [cattle] were going to be left because I was almost last in the bunch,” Rodriguez said. Having drawn up toward the bottom of the draw — 27th out of 30 finalists — he didn’t have too long of a wait before being declared the Unlimited Amateur champion. “Steve and I had marked all the cows [they wanted to cut], and Steve told me what to cut. What I [ended up cutting] was what was left at that time.
“Steve has done an amazing job on my horses,” Rodriguez added. “I just bought this horse like two months ago, and we have won two championships already with him. We have also made the finals in the Open on him, too. He’s been such a great horse.”
Rodriguez found the gelding (One Time Royalty x Reycy Cowgirl x Dual Rey) through Equi-Stat Elite $9 Million Rider Lloyd Cox, who won the 2010 NCHA Futurity Open on the gelding’s sire. Proud of his horse and the effort he puts out, Rodriguez said, “He’s awesome!”
“He’s a little spooky outside — I mean, he’s just spooky everywhere and is afraid of everything,” Rodriguez said. “But, when he goes in the show pen, he’s definitely a show horse.
“Even when you practice at home, he’s awesome in the [same] way he is awesome in the show pen,” Rodriguez added. “And, like I said, he’s definitely a show horse!”
Rodriguez, who has a 9-year-old son, Xavier Jr., and an 8-year-old daughter, Isabella, said One Moore Try’s next show would be the Cotton Stakes in West Monroe, Louisiana, but added, “It depends on Steve’s time, you know. Wherever he goes, I will go — for sure.”
“First of all, I have to thank God for giving me the opportunity for being here and for that horse,” said Rodriguez, grateful for his victory. “I mean, there are a lot of nice horses, but some that don’t always get in the finals. I have done [qualified for] every finals since I started showing the horse. I won The Non-Pro [Aged Event] on him like a month ago, and now I won this one in the ‘big house,’ so I am feeling pretty blessed.
“And, of course, I’ve got to thank Steve, who is my trainer but has become like my brother now. He’s awesome!”
Reycan In The Cash (Dual Rey x Cancan Kitty x High Brow Cat), a gelding bred by Cinder Lakes Ranch LLC in Valley View, Texas, was ridden by Lisa Taylor, of Pilot Point, Texas, to the Reserve Championship with a 219.5 score.
