While his fellow sophomores square off in the GI Runhappy Malibu S. later on Santa Anita's Sunday opening day card, talented and accomplished Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) stays around two turns for the GII San Antonio S. The GII Louisiana Derby winner was third in the GI Kentucky Derby and second in the GI Belmont S. before being DQ'd from first to last for interference in the GI Haskell Invitational S. in July. He got his Grade I in the Sept. 25 Pennsylvania Derby, defeating the likes of subsequent GI Cigar Mile H. hero Americanrevolution (Constitution), and earning a career and fiel- best 111 Beyer Speed Figure. Hot Rod Charlie was far from disgraced last time when fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, and a repeat of anything close to that effort would probably be enough to get the job done here.
Pegram, Watson and Weitman's Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) took back-to-back runnings of this race in 2016 and 2017, and Azul Coast (Super Saver) will carry the same red and yellow silks. The 4-year-old defeated Kiss Today Goodbye (Cairo Prince) and stablemate Eight Rings (Empire Maker) in the GIII Native Diver S. Nov. 20.
Express Train (Union Rags) probably needs to rediscover his best form to defeat Hot Rod Charlie, but he's a two-time Grade II winner in spots like this one over the past year or so and exits a pair of Grade I tries, most recently finishing third behind ill-fated Medina Spirit (Protonico) in the GI Awesome Again S. Oct. 2.
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