Hot Rod Charlie Works Before Races at Santa Anita

Hot Rod Charlie  returned to the work tab Jan. 8 at Santa Anita Park, clocking four furlongs in :48.52 and galloping out to five furlongs in 1:02.15 under regular rider Flavien Prat.

The Doug O'Neill trainee, one of the top sophomores of his class last season, worked just before noon at the Southern California track. Accompanied by Hall of Famer Lava Man, Hot Rod Charlie came on the main track via the quarter-mile chute at 11:48 a.m. PT, galloped through the stretch, broke free from Lava Man heading to the 4 1/2-furlong pole, and was set down at the half-mile by Prat.

Hugging the rail entering the stretch, Hot Rod Charlie got the first quarter-mile in :24.48 and came to the wire with his ears up. 

Take a look at Hot Rod Charlie on the track this morning @santaanitapark as the Vox Populi winner worked a half-mile in 48.52 under Flavien Prat after being led onto the track by @DougONeill1 stable pony Lava Man!

Get an up-close view here with @tvgmike @christinablackr! pic.twitter.com/RieiclRHM1

— TVG (@TVG) January 8, 2022

"'Charlie' went really nice," said O'Neill. "The main thing is, Flavien was very happy with him. Flavien said he did it very easily."

Hot Rod Charlie is scheduled to fly to Dubai Jan. 17 and will target the Feb. 4 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 before the March 26 Dubai World Cup (G1), both at Meydan.

In his last start, the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner was second by a nose to Express Train  Dec. 26 in the San Antonio Stakes (G2) for Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, and Bill Strauss.

This winter, he was the recipient of the 2021 Vox Populi Award, an honor bestowed via fan vote.