Doug O'Neill | Horse Racing Free Tips

Owners Head To Dubai To Cheer On Hot Rod Charlie In His Meydan Debut

Hot Rod Charlie will make his highly-anticipated UAE debut on Friday at Meydan Racecourse.

Voted the winner of the Vox Populi Award for 2021 by US racing fans, the Doug O'Neill-trained 4-year-old is the headline act in G2 Maktoum Challenge R2 [Presented by The Longines Record], the feature on Friday's seven-race card.

Third in the Kentucky Derby, second in the Belmont and the winner of the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby, Hot Rod Charlie warmed up for his Dubai travels with a close second, beaten a nose, in the G2 San Vincente Stakes at Santa Anita, California, on Dec. 26.

He'll have a strong supporting party to cheer him on, with Patrick O'Neill of part-owners Boat Racing in town, as well as another co-owner, Bill Strauss.

“We sat down after the Breeders' Cup meeting in November and made a plan for the horse,” said Strauss. “We decided to target Dubai and then the best way of getting to the Dubai World Cup, which was to bring him here and give him a race over the track.”

Hot Rod Charlie faces stiff opposition in the feature, with emphatic local debut winner Everfast in for Doug Watson.

“We weren't sure where to go with him [after his local debut win in December],” said Watson. “We were thinking this race or the Firebreak, but then [owner] Frankie O'Connor came into town and that helped make up our minds.

“He was second in the Preakness over this trip, so I don't think it will be a problem.”

The other Group 2 on the card is the Balanchine [Presented by Longines Evidenza] for fillies and mares on turf, over 1800 meters (9 furlongs). It sees the French-trained Pevensey Bay bidding to follow up her victory in the Cape Verdi (G2) over 200metres shorter last time out. Waiting for her in the race is Charlie Appleby's Creative Flair, who was last seen finishing fourth in the Jockey Club Oaks in New York in September.

“She has always had the Balanchine as her long-term target,” said the handler, who has won the last two editions of this race with Summer Romance and Magic Lily. “Her preparation has gone well.”

The third Thoroughbred race on the card is the G3 Firebreak Stakes [Presented by Longines Conquest] over 1600 meters (one mile) on dirt, which was won in 2021 by subsequent G2 Godolphin Mile winner Secret Ambition. It has a field of eight, with Bhupat Seemar's Tuz aiming to make it two from two this season, having won the Listed Dubai Creek Mile in December. Watson sends out Prince Eiji, an eye-catching short-head second to Kafoo on his local debut and first on dirt.

“We were thrilled and disappointed with his first run here,” said Watson of the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Obaid Al Maktoum-owned 6-year-old. “He got a little leg-weary with it being his first try on dirt, but it still took a good one to beat him and it's always been the plan to run here.”

Godolphin are having another excellent Carnival and they are loaded in the turf races, in particular. Appleby's Listed winner New Science takes on Jumeirah Derby Trial winner Island Falcon in the Listed Jumeirah Classic [Presented by Longines Elegant] and the handler also runs Sovereign Prince, a winner here three weeks ago when he beat the re-opposing Sed Maarib.

Appleby has had the Carnival as the target for several months for New Science and said: “His form from the UK is rock solid but he was quick to be earmarked for a Dubai campaign and his preparation has gone well. [After this race] he'll head back to the UK for one of the Guineas Trials.”

The 3-year-olds also line up on dirt in the Al Bastakiya Trial [Presented by Longines St Imier] over 1900 meters (1 3/16 miles), in which the Watson-trained Violent Justice looks of interest following his emphatic Jebel Ali maiden win. Earlier on, a select field of six has been declared for the Oud Metha Stakes [Presented by Longines Master Collection] over 1200 meters (6 furlongs) on dirt. Leading the charge there is Rudy Trigger, a winner of three of his five starts in Argentina for trainer Maria Munoz.

The evening's action begins at 6pm with the G1 Maktoum Challenge R1 [Presented by Longines Dolce Vita] for Purebred Arabians, over 1900 meters. It welcomes back last year's winner, RB Frynchh Dude, as well as another Group 1 winner, Brraq.

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Robert B. Lewis Stakes: O’Neill Waiting On ‘Go’ Sign For Debut Winner Happy Jack

Doug O'Neill has but two horses nominated to next Sunday's Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., while Bob Baffert has more than half, 11 of the 20. O'Neill is considering debut winner Happy Jack for the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds, which he won in 2007 with Great Hunter and in 2012 with eventual Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another.

The Lewis is an official qualifying points race for the Kentucky Derby, awarding 10-4-2-1 to the top four finishers.

“The plan is to run him if he gives us the go sign,” said O'Neill, who is considering an out-of-town stakes for his other Lewis nominee, Los Alamitos Futurity winner Slow Down Andy.

A son of Oxbow, who sired Hot Rod Charlie, Happy Jack was indeed a surprise winning first out at six furlongs on Jan. 22 for owner/breeder Calumet Farm, coming from behind at 24-1 to score by 1 1/4 lengths under Abel Cedillo, who would ride back in the Lewis.

Cedillo won three races yesterday, including the Palos Verdes Stakes on a determined Essential Wager for Bob Baffert.

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California Shippers Enhance Big Field Expected For Jan. 29 Southwest At Oaklawn

A dozen horses remained under consideration early Sunday afternoon for the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds Jan. 29 at Oaklawn, racing secretary Pat Pope said.

Post positions will be drawn Monday for the Southwest, along with two other stakes races Jan. 29 at the Hot Springs, Ark., track. The 1 1/16-mile Southwest is Oaklawn's second of four Kentucky Derby points races, offering 17 to the top four finishes (10-4-2-1) toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby.

Dash Attack, Barber Road, Ignitis, Vivar and Barber Road, the 1-2-3-5-7 finishers, respectively, in the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 1 are expected to return for the Southwest. The one-mile Smarty Jones was Oaklawn's first Kentucky Derby points race.

The Southwest is expected to attract two shippers from Southern California – one for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert (Messier or Newgrange) and one for trainer Doug O'Neill (Slow Down Andy).

Other horses expected to be entered Monday include Dec. 18 Oaklawn maiden special weights graduate Call Me Jamal for trainer Mike Puhich and lightly raced Osbourne for trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who has 21 of the 103 nominees, is scheduled to have at least one starter in the Southwest, Pope said.

“I see 10 for sure, with the possibility of a dozen,” Pope said. “And we're hoping the plane is scheduled to fly in here.”

A flight carrying five Southern California-based horses for Saturday's stakes tripleheader, including two for Baffert and two for O'Neill, is scheduled to arrive Tuesday in Arkansas, Pope said.

Baffert has dominated Oaklawn's Kentucky Derby prep series the last decade, notching 17 victories since 2010. He has won the Southwest four times.

Messier won the $100,000 Bob Hope Stakes (G3) Nov. 14 at Del Mar before finishing second behind Slow Down Andy, beaten a length, in the $300,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) Dec. 11 at Los Alamitos to close 2021. Newgrange is unbeaten in two career starts, including the $100,000 Sham Stakes (G3) Jan. 1 at Santa Anita.

Because Baffert has been suspended by Churchill Downs, his horses are ineligible for Kentucky Derby qualifying points. The suspension stems from a possible medication violation involving his 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit.

Slow Down Andy has won 2 of 3 starts overall, with his only loss a runner-up finish in the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Stakes Nov. 5 at Del Mar. The seven-furlong race was restricted to California-breds. O'Neill and breeder/owner J. Paul Reddam campaigned Slow Down Andy's sire, 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist.

Dash Attack collected 10 points for his victory in the Smarty Jones to remain unbeaten in two career starts for trainer Kenny McPeek. Barber Road (John Ortiz), Ignitis (D. Wayne Lukas), Vivar (Brad Cox) and Ben Diesel (Dallas Stewart) are all seeking their first stakes victory.

Osbourne will be making his local debut after finishing second in the $400,000 Springboard Mile Stakes Dec. 17 at Remington Park in his last start. Osbourne, who has raced three times, is a gelded son of 2014 Southwest winner Tapiture.

Post positions also will be drawn Monday for the $200,000 Martha Washington Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles and the $150,000 King Cotton Stakes for older sprinters. The Martha Washington is Oaklawn's first of three Kentucky Oaks points races. Like the Southwest, it offers 17 points (10-4-2-1) to the top four finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Oaks, the country's biggest prize for 3-year-old fillies.

Expected Martha Washington entrants include unbeaten Como Square for Cox, Grade 1 winner Eda (Baffert), multiple stakes winner Optionality (Asmussen), powerful Dec. 31 allowance winner Secret Oath (Lukas) and stakes-placed Tonito's (O'Neill).

Eda and Tonito's finished 1-3, respectively, in the $300,000 Starlet Stakes (G1) Dec. 4 at Los Alamitos. Eda is also ineligible to collect Kentucky Oaks points because of Baffert's suspension by Churchill Downs.

The six-furlong King Cotton field is expected to be headed by Grade I winner Collusion Illusion for trainer Mark Glatt and track record holders Hollis (Ortiz) and Nashville (Asmussen).

Collusion Illusion won the $250,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) in 2020 at Del Mar. Hollis set Oaklawn's 5 ½-furlong mark (1:02.17) in a Dec. 10 allowance race. Runner-up Nashville set Keeneland's 6-furlong track record (1:07.89) in the $125,000 Perryville Stakes for 3-year-olds in 2020 at Keeneland.

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Hot Rod Charlie En Route To Dubai; Has Feb. 4 Prep Race Before World Cup

Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie was en route to Dubai Monday for the $12 million, Group 1 Dubai World Cup on March 26. The son of Oxbow is scheduled to have a prep race there on Feb. 4 for the World Cup.

The popular 4-year-old colt had his final workout at Santa Anita Saturday for the 1 1/4-mile World Cup at Meydan Race Course, going five furlongs in 1:01.20.

Hot Rod Charlie won the 2021 Secretariat Vox Populi Award created by Secretariat's owner Penny Chenery, annually recognizing the horse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the general public and gained recognition for Thoroughbred racing.

Flight time from Los Angeles to Dubai is approximately 16 hours, covering some 8,300 miles.

“He's a good shipper,” trainer Doug O'Neill said. “He absolutely loves it. He loves traveling.

“He went fantastic in his breeze here and we're super-optimistic. We're going one day at a time, but as we speak, he's doing really well.

“He'll be surrounded by all his normal people from our staff, and Dubai's racing department has been great with us in the past.

“We're really looking forward to getting over there and experiencing it again.”

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