Hot Rod Charlie to Point for 3-year-old Campaign
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Photo: Rick Samuels
Hot Rod Charlie trains Oct. 30 at Keeneland prior to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Hot Rod Charlie, the runner-up to Essential Quality in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1), is likely to be freshened over the remainder of 2020 to prepare for a 3-year-old campaign, trainer Doug O'Neill said.
The 2-year-old son of Oxbow threatened at 94-1 odds in the Juvenile at Keeneland Nov. 6. Sitting midpack under Tyler Gaffalione behind a blistering pace, he advanced to take the lead in early stretch before he was caught over the final sixteenth of a mile by Essential Quality to lose by three-quarters of a length.
The Juvenile was Hot Rod Charlie's fifth start of the year and followed a maiden victory at Santa Anita Park Oct. 2. The half brother to 2019 champion sprinter Mitole earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure in the Juvenile after registering a 78 in his maiden triumph.
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"The plan right now is not to have another start before the beginning of the year," O'Neill said. "But I don't know where that start will be. I would assume probably at Santa Anita."
Santa Anita has not released its winter/spring stakes schedule, but according to a calendar of qualifying races for next year's Road to the Kentucky Derby posted online by Churchill Downs, the first major route for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita is the Sham Stakes (G3) Jan. 2. Its 3-year-old stakes series then continues with the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) Feb. 6, the San Felipe Stakes (G2) March 6, and the Santa Anita Derby (G1) April 1.
Hot Rod Charlie earned eight qualifying points toward next year's Derby with his second in the Juvenile. Godolphin's Essential Quality, also expected to remain idle for the rest of the year for trainer Brad Cox, is the Derby points leader with 30. He banked 20 for winning the Juvenile and 10 for taking the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) last month at Keeneland.
O'Neill, who won the 2012 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) with I'll Have Another and the 2016 Derby with Nyquist , expects Hot Rod Charlie to bypass California's final major juvenile dirt race, the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at Los Alamitos Race Course Dec. 19.
"He's done a lot as a 2-year-old. We'll put him away for the rest of the year and look for something early in next year," he said.
Bred in Kentucky by Edward Cox, Hot Rod Charlie races for Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, and Strauss Bros Racing. He was a $110,000 purchase by bloodstock agent Dennis O'Neill, the trainer's brother, from the Small Batch Sales consignment at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale.