Hot Rod Charlie Will Ship to Spa Aug. 1 for Whitney

Hot Rod Charlie  is heading to Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 1 to get ready for the $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1) next weekend.

The 4-year-old colt, owned by Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, and William Strauss, has been stabled at Keeneland for the summer, where has worked four times over the Lexington oval under the supervision of trainer Doug O'Neill's assistant Leandro Mora.

His last start came in the Salvator Mile Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park where he finished second as the 1-5 favorite, beaten a head by Mind Control .

The son of Oxbow   will have the blinkers back on for the Aug. 6 Whitney. He hasn't worn blinkers in his last four starts.

"Knock on wood, all's well," O'Neill said from California.

A grade 1 winner at 3 in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1), Hot Rod Charlie has raced three times this year, twice in Dubai. He captured the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Presented by the Longines Record (G2) on Feb. 4 and then was second behind Country Grammer  in the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1).

In the Whitney, he will be facing foes such as Life Is Good  and Olympiad . Hot Rod Charlie finished ahead of Life Is Good, who was fourth, in the Dubai World Cup. 

"I'm really excited about facing Life Is Good again," said O'Neill, who will arrive in Saratoga Aug. 4. "It looks to be a small field, but a real tough field."