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Hot Rod Charlie Wins 2021 Vox Populi Award

Horse racing fans have spoken, and they have chosen Hot Rod Charlie, the gutsy 3-year-old colt who was a force along the Triple Crown trail, as the winner of the 2021 Secretariat Vox Populi Award. Created by Secretariat's owner Penny Chenery, the award annually recognizes the horse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the general public and gained recognition for Thoroughbred racing.

Emerging as the favorite among the thousands of fans who voted in the year-end online poll, Hot Rod Charlie started the season as a long shot but consistently showed speed and determination that carried him through the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Hot Rod Charlie is owned in a partnership with Boat Racing LLC, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, and William Strauss. Trained by Doug O'Neill and piloted by Flavien Prat, he was a surprise winner of the Louisiana Derby and later finished third in the Kentucky Derby and second in the Belmont Stakes, where his blistering fractions in the first quarter-mile rivaled the record-setting pace set in 1973 by Secretariat. Later in the year, Hot Rod Charlie answered an infamous disqualification in the TVG.com Haskell Stakes with a breathtaking comeback in the Pennsylvania Derby, his first graded stakes win.

The Oxbow colt's thrilling performances and his tenacity on the track endeared him to racing fans. Finishing in the money for five of his seven 2021 starts, Hot Rod Charlie tallied more than $2 million in earnings in 2021 and is poised for a sensational 4-year-old season in 2022. Off the track, his owners have donated a portion of Hot Rod Charlie's earnings to causes such as the Melanoma Research Alliance to honor O'Neill family members who had succumbed to the disease, as well as the Folds of Honor Foundation and the Jake Panus Walk-On Football Endowed Scholarship Fund at the University of South Carolina.

“Hot Rod Charlie represents the heart and purpose of the Secretariat Vox Populi Award, and his feel-good story and grit as a competitor remind us why we love racing,” said Kate Chenery Tweedy, family historian and daughter of Penny Chenery. “Traditional awards may overlook his accomplishments, but this award celebrates his endearing connection with fans.”

Greg Helm of Roadrunner Racing, representing Hot Rod Charlie's ownership interests, expressed gratitude for the honor, given the talented field of nominees.

“This colt has given our team such an incredible ride this year, and we are overjoyed he has been recognized as the winner of the Vox Populi Award,” Helm said. “We saw something special in him early on, and 'Charlie' has validated that time and time again. It means so much to us that fans have connected with him too.”

Hot Rod Charlie was one of a select group of six nominees submitted by the Vox Populi Committee and presented to thousands of voters in all 50 states and more than 40 countries who spoke as the “Voice of the People” in the Secretariat.com online poll. Other nominees were Echo Zulu, Essential Quality, Knicks Go, Letruska, and Life is Good. Voters also had the option to write in their own favorite candidate to recognize other exceptional horses.

Hot Rod Charlie now joins a list of cherished racing stars who have also received the Vox Populi Award: Authentic (2020), Bricks and Mortar (2019), Winx (2018), Ben's Cat (2017), California Chrome (2016 and 2014), American Pharoah (2015), Mucho Macho Man (2013), Paynter (2012), Rapid Redux (2011), and Zenyatta (inaugural 2010).

The trophy presentation for Hot Rod Charlie's connections is scheduled for Jan. 8, 2022, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., where race fans can also enjoy the official Vox Populi winner's print giveaway and special autograph appearances.

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Voting Now Open For 2021 Secretariat Vox Populi Award

Online voting is now open for the 12th annual winner of the 2021 Secretariat Vox Populi Award. Created by Secretariat's late owner Penny Chenery, the Vox Populi, or “Voice of the People,” Award recognizes the racehorse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the public and gained recognition for the sport during the past year.

The six nominees were selected by a committee comprised of several distinguished personalities from within and outside the racing industry who all share a keen interest and affection for the sport. But voters also have the option to write in a racehorse of their choice. Voting will be open through Nov. 30, and the winner will be announced in December.

This year's nominees are:

Echo Zulu, the 2-year-old filly sensation whose undefeated debut season boasted impressive wins in all four of her starts, including the NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
Essential Quality, the 3-year-old colt whose class and consistency has provided conversation throughout the racing season with five wins in seven starts, including the Belmont Stakes
Hot Rod Charlie, the gutsy 3-year-old colt who rose to be a force along the Triple Crown trail and beyond with wins in the Louisiana Derby and the Pennsylvania Derby
Knicks Go, the 5-year-old Breeders' Cup Classic and Pegasus World Cup winner whose stellar 2021 campaign resulted in earnings of $7.3 million
Letruska, the talented and tenacious 5-year-old distaffer who collected six wins in eight 2021 starts
Life is Good, the swift 3-year-old colt whose comeback from mid-season injury resulted in four wins in five starts, including the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

“Our nominees this year represent some of the brightest moments for the sport in 2021,” said Kate Chenery Tweedy, family historian and daughter of Penny Chenery. “We look forward to the fans celebrating their favorites by voting for the horses who thrilled them, who inspired them, and who provided them the most joy during another challenging year.”

The list of previous Vox Populi winners reads as a who's who among the sport's contemporary superstars and beloved equine heroes: Authentic (2020), Bricks and Mortar (2019), Winx (2018), Ben's Cat (2017), California Chrome (2016 and 2014), American Pharoah (2015), Mucho Macho Man (2013), Paynter (2012), Rapid Redux (2011), and 2010 inaugural winner Zenyatta.

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BC Classic Winner Knicks Go Returns To Churchill Downs Tuesday

Saturday's $6 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic champion Knicks Go is set to return to Churchill Downs on Tuesday evening along with several other of his stablemates from the Brad Cox barn.

Owned by Korea Racing Authority, Knicks Go is scheduled to fly from Los Angeles to Indianapolis before vanning two hours south to Churchill Downs. The flight is scheduled to land in Indianapolis at 6:30 p.m. (all times Eastern) and should arrive to Cox's Churchill Downs Barn 22 at approximately 9 p.m.

“He ran an extraordinary effort in the Classic,” Cox said. “We're very proud of him and his campaign this year. Things really worked out the way we planned. It means a lot to our team and his owners to win this race.”

Joining Knicks Go on Tuesday's flight is Classic third-place finisher Essential Quality along with Bubble Rock, Juju's Map, Ready to Purrform, and Turnerloose.

The Breeders' Cup World Championships have been held at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., twice and the Classic has been won each time by a locally based horse: Knicks Go and Gun Runner in 2017.

Local trainers Steve Asmussen and Wayne Catalano also enjoyed success at this year's Breeders' Cup. Asmussen's 2-year-old filly Echo Zulu romped in Friday's $2 million G1 Juvenile Fillies while Catalano's Aloha West defeated Dr. Shivel in Saturday's $2 million G1 Sprint by a scant nose.

“This victory was the pinnacle of my career,” Catalano said following the race.

The 65-year-old trainer has trained fewer horses recently and his usual full barn at Churchill Downs has only four horses. Catalano also keeps a string of horses at Keeneland where Aloha West is scheduled to return Wednesday. Aloha West's victory in the Sprint was Catalano's 2,931th as a trainer. He sports a trio of other Breeders' Cup victories with Stephanie's Kitten (2011 Juvenile Turf), She Be Wild (2009 Juvenile Fillies), and Dreaming of Anna (2006 Juvenile Fillies).

Echo Zulu was Asmussen's eighth Breeders' Cup victory. He previously won with Mitole (2019 Sprint), Gun Runner (2017 Classic), Untapable (2014 Distaff), Tapizar (2012 Dirt Mile), Regally Ready (2011 Turf Sprint), My Miss Aurelia (2011 Juvenile Fillies), and Curlin (2007 Classic).

The North American all-time leading conditioner now has a career-best mark in purse earnings of $27,807,020 – about $400,000 more than he had in 2019. He trails fellow Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher by about $46 million to become the all-time leader in purse earnings.

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Keeneland September Graduates Win Big At Breeders’ Cup

Keeneland's September Yearling Sale produced six winners during the 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships on Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.: Knicks Go (Grade 1 Classic), Aloha West (G1 Sprint), Life Is Good (G1 Dirt Mil), Golden Pal (G1 Turf Sprint), Corniche (G1 Juvenile), and Echo Zulu (G1 Juvenile Fillies).

A two-time Keeneland sales graduate, Knicks Go initially sold as a weanling for $40,000 at the 2016 November Breeding Stock. He was purchased for $87,000 by owner Korea Racing Authority from Woods Edge Farm, agent, at the 2017 September Sale.

With his 2 3/4-length win in the $6 million Classic, the multiple G1 earner of more than $8.6 million establishes himself as the favorite for Horse of the Year honors.

Aloha West, a graduate of the 2018 September Sale, won the $2 million G1 Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint by a nose over fellow Keeneland sale graduate Dr. Schivel in a thrilling finish. The son of Hard Spun was consigned to the September Sale by Nursery Place, agent. He finished second in the G2 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix on Oct. 8 at Keeneland in his final prep for the Breeders' Cup.

Another Fall Meet stakes winner to win a Breeders' Cup race is September Sale alum Golden Pal, who captured the G2 Woodford Presented by TVG on his way to a dominating victory in the $1 million G1 Turf Sprint. The Uncle Mo colt is based at Keeneland with trainer Wesley Ward. He was offered at the 2019 September Sale by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

September Sale graduates Life Is Good, Ginobili, and Restrainedvengence finished 1-2-3 in the $1 million G1 Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Life Is Good led gate to wire to record a 5¾-length win, his fourth graded stakes victory this year. China Horse Club and Maverick Racing bought the Into Mischief colt for $525,000 from the consignment of Paramount Sales, agent, at the 2019 September Sale.

Two Keeneland sales graduates who were Breeders' Cup-placed on Saturday are cataloged to the Nov. 10 opening session of the 2021 November Sale. Edgeway, second in the G1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, is consigned by Lane's End as Hip 103. Charmaine's Mia, third in the Turf Sprint, is consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, as Hip 172. Both are cataloged as racing or broodmare prospects.

On Future Stars Friday at Del Mar, Keeneland 2020 September Sale alumni Corniche and Echo Zulu were authoritative winners of the two spotlight races, the $2 million G1 TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and $2 million G1 NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, respectively.

An unbeaten, multiple Grade 1-winning son of Quality Road, Corniche was offered at the September Sale by Stonehaven Steadings, agent. His half-sister Look Me Over, in foal to Kitten's Joy, is consigned by Hunter Valley Farm as Hip 223 in Book 1 of the upcoming November Sale.

Echo Zulu recorded her third G1 win in the Juvenile Fillies, cruising to an easy 5¼-length victory to keep her perfect record intact and all but clinch the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old filly. From the first crop of Gun Runner, Echo Zulu was consigned by Betz Thoroughbreds, agent, and purchased for $300,000 by co-owner Winchell Thoroughbreds.

Keeneland sales graduates swept the top three spots in the Juvenile Fillies, with G1 Darley Alcibiades winner Juju's Map and Tarabi finishing second and third, respectively.

Twilight Gleaming (IRE), winner of the G2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, trained for the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, where she is based with trainer Wesley Ward.

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