Hot Rod Charlie Confirmed for Haskell, Rombauer '50/50'

Trainer Doug O'Neill confirmed Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) runner-up Hot Rod Charlie  as an intended starter for the July 17 TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park after the 3-year-old breezed six furlongs in 1:11 3/5 July 2 at Santa Anita Park.

In the 1 1/8-mile Haskell, another matchup looms with Mandaloun , who finished in front of Hot Rod Charlie in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs this spring in their last race together. Mandaloun crossed the wire second in the Derby, a half-length ahead of Hot Rod Charlie in third. Both colts could move up a position if first-place finisher Medina Spirit  is ultimately disqualified and placed last after testing positive for betamethasone in post-race tests.

Flavien Prat, aboard Hot Rod Charlie in the Derby and Belmont, has a return riding assignment in the Haskell, O'Neill said. Prat worked Hot Rod Charlie Friday, settling him behind two other breezing horses and passing them down the lane on the inside.

"Both Flavien and Charlie had dirt on them after the work, and neither Flavien nor Charlie batted an eye from it," O'Neill said. "A really good work visually, and then when you look at your watch, you're like, 'Oh my god.' He didn't look like he was going that fast. One day at a time but we were very happy with today."

As he has in other works this summer, Hot Rod Charlie breezed without blinkers, equipment the Oxbow   colt had worn for racing since last October when he broke his maiden at Santa Anita Park.

"It's one of those deals where the blinkers helped him focus and become the racehorse he's become, but as he has matured, Flavien says he seems very happy without them," O'Neill said. "We're hoping that obviously with some of these stretch duels that racing without them will tip us over onto the winning end of a stretch duel. We just wanted to try it in the mornings. So far, it's been a good experience. As it stands right now, more than likely 'Charlie' will run without blinkers in the Haskell."

Hot Rod Charlie, owned by Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, and Bill Strauss, won the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) in March—defeating Mandaloun, among others—but a grade 1 victory has eluded him. Besides his close defeats in the Belmont and Kentucky Derby, he ran second last fall in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) at Keeneland.  

O'Neill indicated the purse, tradition, and prestige of the Haskell left it a desirable option following the Belmont. The Haskell is also a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

"Credit to the connections of 'Charlie' that they didn't want to circle a date and force the issue. They wanted to make sure he was going to take us there, and his last two works are saying he's ready," said O'Neill.

The Haskell drew 16 nominations, including Juddmonte's Mandaloun, trained by Brad Cox, and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner and Belmont third-place finisher Rombauer , trained by Michael McCarthy for owners John and Diane Fradkin.

Godolphin's Essential Quality, also trained by Cox and widely considered the leader in the 3-year-old division after capturing the Belmont Stakes, was not nominated to the Haskell. He is aimed for competition at Saratoga Race Course this summer.

Though Mandaloun is pointed for the Haskell after winning the local prep, the TVG.com Pegasus Stakes, Rombauer is 50/50 for the Haskell, according to John Fradkin. Rombauer also breezed Friday at Santa Anita, covering five furlongs in 1:01.

"There's no definitive target for his next race yet," Fradkin wrote in a text message. "I was hoping to go in the (July 10) Belmont Derby (G1T), but Michael thought it was just a bit too soon on the calendar."

O'Neill said new riding crop rules this year in New Jersey, in which a jockey can only strike a horse for safety reasons, did not make him reluctant to run at Monmouth Park with Hot Rod Charlie.

"After talking to the connections and Flavien, it is one of those things that is completely out of our hands. They are all running on an equal basis that way," O'Neill said.

He hopes removing blinkers will add to his trainee's responsiveness, offsetting urging the colt might have received from the riding crop.

Hot Rod Charlie is scheduled to breeze again July 9 before flying to New Jersey on a FedEx flight the next day, a week before the Haskell.