Hot Rod Charlie, a Grade 1 winner and earner of over $5.6 million on the racetrack, has been retired from racing and will enter stud at Shadai Farm in Japan for the 2023 breeding season, Daily Racing Form reports.
The 5-year-old son of Oxbow's retirement was confirmed to DRF by co-owner Bill Strauss, who said the horse will leave for Japan after clearing quarantine requirements. He had been residing at Gainesway in Lexington, Ky., since finishing sixth in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland on Nov. 5.
Hot Rod Charlie retires with five wins in 19 starts for earnings of $5,676,720, racing for trainer Doug O'Neill, and the partnership of Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable and Strauss Bros. Racing.
After finishing second in the 2020 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at odds of 94-1, Hot Rod Charlie earned a place in the following year's Kentucky Derby field with a victory in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. He finished third at Churchill Downs, then was promoted to second following the eventual disqualification of Medina Spirit.
Hot Rod Charlie continued to compete at a high level during his 3-year-old season, finishing second in the Belmont Stakes, then coming back two starts later to take the G1 Pennsylvania Derby. He'd then finish fourth in that year's Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar and second in the G2 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
At five, Hot Rod Charlie ventured overseas to the U.A.E., where he won the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2, then finished second in the G1 Dubai World Cup. His stateside return was highlighted by a hard-fought score in the G2 Lukas Classic against Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike.
Bred in Kentucky by Edward A. Cox, Jr., Hot Rod Charlie is out of the placed Indian Charlie mare Indian Miss, who was named 2021 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. Hot Rod Charlie is a half-brother to champion sprinter Mitole.
Read more at Daily Racing Form.
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