Jockey Flavien Prat will ride Hot Rod Charlie in the Kentucky Derby on May 1 at Churchill Downs, reports the Daily Racing Form. The 3-year-old son of Oxbow won the Louisiana Derby last out under Joel Rosario, who may have other commitments on the first Saturday in May, including Concert Tour for trainer Bob Baffert.
Trained by Doug O'Neill, Hot Rod Charlie got acquainted with Prat during a five-furlong work at Santa Anita on Saturday. The pair stopped the clock in 1:01 1/5, 27th of 66 at the distance.
Work of the Day from @santaanitapark, Louisiana Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie (Outside) and Hammering Lemon worked 5 Furlongs on April 10th, 2021, for trainer Doug O'Neill. @1stbet @DougONeill1 pic.twitter.com/wKnwkOqLv0
— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) April 10, 2021
On Monday, O'Neill told DRF: “Both Joel and Flavien are world-class jocks. Flavien was able to commit to Charlie. We're excited moving forward.”
O'Neill has Kentucky Derby wins with I'll Have Another (2012) and Nyquist (2016) on his resume, while Prat was awarded the victory via disqualification on Country House in 2019.
Hot Rod Charlie ran second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last year off a maiden victory, then ran third in the G3 Bob Lewis in his first start as a 3-year-old. He won the Louisiana Derby by two lengths over Midnight Bourbon, O Besos, and Proxy.
Read more at the Daily Racing Form.
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