The gutsy Hot Rod Charlie clawed his way back late to deny a late rally from GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike in the GII Lukas Classic S. Saturday beneath the Twin Spires. Favored at 6-5, the bay hustled up to press Art Collector (Bernardini) through opening splits of :23.55 and :47.94. Turning up the heat as three-quarters went in 1:11.77, the bay took control entering the far turn and had his nose in front at the top of the stretch. Rich Strike rallied up the outside and briefly headed Hot Rod Charlie, but the gritty 4-year-old dug deep to deny the Derby winner in the shadow of the wire.
Winner of the GI Pennsylvania Derby last year, Hot Rod Charlie checked in second in both the G1 Dubai World Cup in March and the GIII Salvatore Mile June 18. He was last seen finishing third behind Saturday's GI Woodward S. winner Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in Saratoga's GI Whitney S. Aug. 6.
Pedigree Notes:
Hot Rod Charlie is the lone Grade I winner for his sire Oxbow. He is a half-brother to champion and new Spendthrift sire Mitole. Larry best went to $1.9 million to acquire the winner's dam Indian Miss in foal to Into Mischief at the 2020 KEENOV sale. The resulting foal was a colt and she produced an Instagrand colt this year. Indian Miss was bred back to Practical Joke.
Saturday, Churchill Downs
LUKAS CLASSIC S.-GII, $498,000, Churchill Downs, 10-1, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:49.77, ft.
1–HOT ROD CHARLIE, 125, c, 4, by Oxbow
1st Dam: Indian Miss (Broodmare Of The Year), by Indian Charlie
2nd Dam: Glacken's Gal, by Smoke Glacken
3rd Dam: Lady Diplomat, by Silver Deputy
($17,000 Ylg '19 FTKFEB; $110,000 Ylg '19 FTKOCT).
O-Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, LLC, Strauss Bros Racing &
Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Ltd.; B-Edward A. Cox (KY); T-Doug
O'Neill; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $305,520. Lifetime Record:
GISW-USA, GSW & GISP-UAE, 18-5-5-4, $5,556,720. *1/2 to
Mitole (Eskendereya), Ch. Male Sprinter, MGISW, $3,104,910.
Werk Nick Rating: A+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Rich Strike, 122, c, 3, Keen Ice–Gold Strike, by Smart Strike.
O-RED TR-Racing, LLC; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Eric R. Reed.
$99,200.
3–King Fury, 121, c, 4, Curlin–Taris, by Flatter. ($950,000 Ylg '19
FTSAUG). O-Fern Circle Stables & Three Chimneys Farm, LLC;
B-Heider Family Stables, LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek.
$49,600.
Margins: HD, 4 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.33, 4.86, 16.20.
Also Ran: Happy Saver, Art Collector, Chess Chief.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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