Trainer Doug O'Neill told the Daily Racing Form on Wednesday that top jockey Flavien Prat has committed to ride Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Hot Rod Charlie in the June 5 Belmont Stakes, rather than staying aboard Saturday's Preakness winner Rombauer, whom he rode for trainer Michael McCarthy.
“We have Prat. Grateful to have him,” O'Neill told DRF.
Hot Rod Charlie shipped back to California after the Derby, and is expected to breeze on Saturday. He will work again on May 28, then fly to New York on May 29.
McCarthy has not decided on a replacement rider for Rombauer, who won the Preakness by 3 1/2 lengths at odds of 11-1. Rombauer shipped straight to Belmont Park after the Preakness, and will be entered in the Belmont Stakes pending he trains well up to the race.
Other potential Belmont Stakes contenders include: Essential Quality, Midnight Bourbon, Rock Your World, France Go De Ina, Bourbonic, Known Agenda, Overtook, and Rebel's Romance, Weyburn, Brooklyn Strong, and Keepmeinmind.
Read more at the Daily Racing Form.
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