HOT ROD IN SHARP WORK FOR KENTUCKY DERBY
Grade 2 Louisiana Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie worked five furlongs Saturday at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., in company with stablemate Hammering Lemon, after which Doug O'Neill had high praise for the son of Oxbow as he prepares for the Kentucky Derby on May 1.
“He worked really, really well,” said O'Neill, in pursuit of his third win in the Run for the Roses, having won it in 2012 with I'll Have Another and 2016 with Nyquist.
“I think the clockers gave him 1:01 and two, breezing (the actual time was 1:01.20, breezing),” said O'Neill, who had Flavien Prat aboard. “Breezing” is a rare designation given to horses by clockers in Southern California, who typically designate workouts as being done “handily.”
“Charlie had company with a horse named Hammering Lemon (clocked in 1:01.60) who broke off in front of him. They both finished up good but Charlie was the better of the two.
“Knock on wood we're heading the right way.”
Bob Baffert, seeking his seventh win the Kentucky Derby, plans to work Runhappy Santa Anita Derby runner-up Medina Spirit “next weekend.”
The post ‘Knock On Wood, We’re Heading The Right Way’: Prat Aboard As Hot Rod Charlie Breezes For O’Neill appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
