Grade I winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow–Indian Miss, by Indian Charlie) will stand at Shadai Stallion Station in Japan beginning in 2023. The GI Pennsylvania Derby hero and half-brother to Eclipse Champion Sprinter Mitole (Eskendereya) will stand for ¥2,000,000.
Eisuke Tokutake of Shadai Stallion Station said, “Hot Rod Charlie has only one [Grade I] win, but he is running steadily, and his pedigree background is a stallion that is definitely a Japan stallion [in the making] with a champion sprinter as his half-brother, [Mitole].”
Purchased for $17,000 as a short yearling out of the Fasig-Tipton February Sale, he developed into a $110,000 prospect when reoffered at Fasig-Tipton in October of 2019. The Edward A. Cox, Jr.-bred dark bay won a maiden special weight in his fourth start at two for Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, LLC & William Strauss and trainer Doug O'Neill and was later was a close second to Essential Quality (Tapit) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile of 2020.
At three, Hot Rod Charlie was campaigned with the Triple Crown in mind, and was third in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. prior to taking the GII Louisiana Derby by two lengths. Gainesway Farm bought in before he crossed the wire in third in the GI Kentucky Derby, although he was subsequently elevated to second as Medina Spirit (Protonico) was disqualified for a medication positive and Mandaloun (Into Mischief) was named the winner. The colt was only 1 1/4 lengths behind old rival Essential Quality when runner-up in the GI Belmont S., and he was a nose the best in the GI Haskell S., but was disqualified to seventh after drifting down the stretch. Recording a career-high victory at Parx in September, he rounded out the season with a fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar, followed by a nose second in Santa Anita's GII San Antonio S.
Sent to Meydan in February of 2022, the then-4-year-old dashed to a 5 1/4-length win in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 prior to running second in the G1 Dubai World Cup a month later. Runner-up in his North American reappearance in the GIII Salvator Mile last June, he finished third behind Eclipse finalist Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in the GI Whitney S., narrowly besting Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) in the GII Lukas Classic in October. He concluded 2022 with a sixth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic held at Keeneland Nov. 5.
“What to say? Thank you Hot Rod Charlie for the amazing memories, the great and often unpredictable ride and for inspiring us to give our ALL every time,” tweeted O'Neill. “Wishing him the best in his new career. We'll miss him around here.”
In a press release, O'Neill continued: “Hot Rod Charlie was a phenomenal racehorse. He competed against the best of his generation and proved his class time and again. As a half-brother to champion sprinter Mitole, the sky's the limit. We look forward to following his stud career.”
He retires with a mark of 19-5-5-4 and $5,676,720 in earnings. The fifth foal, runner and winner for his placed dam, Hot Rod Charlie hails from the same family as GII Davona Dale S. heroine Live Lively (Medaglia d'Oro).
Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, KY, will host an Open House Saturday, Nov. 26 from noon until 2pm for fans to meet new retiree Lava Man (Slew City Slew). The event is free and open to the public. Pizza and lava crunch cakes will be served.
The now 21-year old posted an impressive resume during a racing career that spanned seven years including victories in the GI Pacific Classic, GI Hollywood Gold Cup, and the GII Goodwood H., now called the Awesome Again. Lava Man retired as a 9-year-old with over $5.2 million in earnings.
Upon his retirement from racing, he became a lead pony in Doug O'Neill Stables, a position he held until Nov. 5 when he made his final appearance on the track leading Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbox) to the gate for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.
On Tuesday, Nov. 8, Lava Man, aka “Coach”, arrived at Old Friends where he will enjoy his well-earned retirement.
Unbeaten sensation and guaranteed GI Breeders' Cup Classic favorite Flightline (Tapit) put in his final prep for the World Championships at Keeneland Saturday. The 'TDN Rising Star' covered five furlongs solo in 1:00.60 (4/62) shortly after 7:30 a.m. under assistant trainer Juan Leyva.
“I told Juan to go in a minute and change and out [seven-eighths] in 1:26, and that's what he did,” trainer John Sadler said. “Juan's a great work rider. It was not about going fast today, just getting around there happy today.”
Flightline arrived at Keeneland Sunday from his Santa Anita home base.
“He's had a good week and gotten settled in, and the track is a little similar to Del Mar,” Sadler said, noting that Flightline's schedule for next week will include returning to the track to jog Monday, gallop Tuesday through Friday and not go to the track the morning of the Classic.
Life Is Good Tops Pletcher Workers
Classic contender and 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 on his own at Keeneland Saturday with fractions of :12, :24.60, :49, 1:00.60 then out six furlongs in 1:13.20, seven-eighths in 1:25.80 and the mile in 1:39.80.
“He is a superior work horse,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Today was typical of what we have seen his whole career.”
Pletcher is confident his charge will get the 10-furlong distance this time after a failed effort in the G1 Dubai World Cup.
“He is hard to pull up at the end [of his workouts],” the conditioner said. “We are eager to run on a real track not like in Dubai, which was really deep that night. I think that played against him.”
Pletcher's other Classic pre-entrant Happy Saver (Super Saver) had what the trainer called a “spirited gallop” in lieu of a timed breeze.
“We let him two-minute clip the whole way around,” Pletcher said. “We are going to do similar to what we did before the [GI Met Mile]: just one breeze two weeks out. He tends to run better when he is fresh. He'll have a few more strong gallops. He won't breeze again.”
Also working this morning on the main track for Pletcher were GI Breeders' Cup Distaff runners Nest (Curlin) and Malathaat (Curlin). In company with recent maiden winner Inventing (Union Rags), Nest worked a half-mile in :50.40. Malathaat worked a half-mile in :49.60 with the 3-year-old maiden Old Point (Curlin).
Working on the grass together were GI Shadwell Mile winner Annapolis GI (Mile) and GII Pilgrim S. victor Major Dude (GI Juvenile Turf), who were timed in :50.40 for a half-mile.
Charlie Puts in Final Classic Prep
Gutsy GII Lukas Classic winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) also had his final breeze ahead of the BC Classic Saturday in Lexington, going six panels in company in 1:12.80.
“He looked good and I got him in 1:12 4/5,” trainer Doug O'Neill said.
Other O'Neill BC workers included Awake At Midnyte (Nyquist) (5f, 1:01.20, Distaff), Slow Down Andy (Nyquist) (5f, 1:00.40, GI Dirt Mile), Vegas Magic (Good Magic) (5f, 1:02.20, GI Juvenile Fillies) and Sharp Aza Tack (Sharp Azteca) (5f, 1:01 on the training track, GI Juvenile Turf Sprint).
Brown Breezes BC Contingent
Jack Christopher | Coady
Trainer Chad Brown sent out a dozen of his Breeders' Cup pre-entrants, with seven working on the dirt and five on the turf at Keeneland Saturday.
Working a half-mile on the dirt were MGISW Jack Christopher (Munnings) (:48.60, GI Sprint or Dirt Mile), Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) (:47.80, GI Filly and Mare Sprint), Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) (:47.20, GI Juvenile) and working in company I'm Very Busy (Cloud Computing) and Oxymore (Astern {Aus}) (:49.60 Juvenile Turf).
Working five furlongs on the dirt were Search Results (Flatter) (1:01.20, Distaff) and Pipeline (Speightstown) (1:01, Dirt Mile).
On the turf, which was rated as good, were Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) (4f, :49.80, Mile) in company with Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) (4f, :49.80, GI Filly and Mare Turf), In Italian (GB) (4f, :50.80, Filly and Mare Turf) and Virginia Joy (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) (5f, 1:02.60, Filly and Mare Turf) in company with Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) (5f, 1:02.60, Mile).
“We did great,” a beaming Brown said following the works.
Other Keeneland BC Workers Saturday
On the main track were Kimari (Munnings) (5f, 1:01.40, Sprint or Filly and Mare Sprint) and Chi Town Lady (Verrazano) (5f, 1:01.80, Filly and Mare Sprint) in company for Wesley Ward; Willy Boi (Uncaptured) (4f, :49.20, Sprint) for trainer Jorge Delgado and Simplification (Not This Time) (5f, 1:00.40, Dirt Mile) for Antonio Sano.
Working on the turf course were Reckoning Force (Air Force Blue) (4f, :50.40, Juvenile Turf) and Cazadero (Street Sense) (4f, :50.40, Turf Sprint) for Brendan Walsh; Arrest Me Red (Pioneerof the Nile) (5f, 1:03.60, Turf Sprint) and Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) (5f, 1:03.80, Turf Sprint) for Wesley Ward; Private Creed (Jimmy Creed) (3f, :39, Juvenile Turf Sprint) for Steve Asmussen; Tyler's Tribe (Sharp Azteca) (3f, :38.20, Juvenile Turf Sprint) for Tim Martin and Caravel (Mizzen Mast) (4f, :51, Turf Sprint) for Brad Cox.
BC Workers at Churchill Downs
MGISW Cyberknife (Gun Runner) put in his final work for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs Saturday, covering five furlongs in :59 flat. With regular rider Florent Geroux in the saddle, Cyberknife started his work about two lengths behind stablemate Forza Di Oro (Speightstown) and finished even at the completion of his work.
“With a week out from the Breeders' Cup it was the right move we wanted to see,” trainer Brad Cox said. “Both of these horses are really good work horses and I think matching up Cyberknife with him he'd get a lot out of his work. We ended up choosing to run in the Dirt Mile instead of the [GI Breeders' Cup] Classic because we thought it would be the most likely race he could win. The Classic came up a very deep field and even though Cyberknife is going to cut back in distance we feel he can handle the two-turn mile at Keeneland.”
Cox also worked GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint contender Lady Rocket (Tale of the Cat). She went five furlongs in 1:00.60 outside 3-year-old filly Girl With a Dream (Practial Joke). Cyberknife and Lady Rocket, along with Cox juveniles Chop Chop (City of Light) and Verifying (Justify), are scheduled to ship to Keeneland Monday.
Also on the Churchill worktab Saturday was GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint runner Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), who went a half-mile in :47.80 outside of a stablemate.
Taiba Has Final Classic Work at Santa Anita
GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba (Gun Runner) had his final major workout for the Breeders' Cup Classic Saturday, going six furlongs at Santa Anita this morning in 1:13 flat under Juan Ochoa in company with Messier (Empire Maker), who was also clocked in 1:13.
“He went well,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “He's not a great work horse, so he went with Messier. I was happy with it. He'll ship tonight for Kentucky].”
The early-morning activity at racetracks across the country was ablaze Saturday, with horses targeting next month's Breeders' Cup races dominating the scene. Well represented at Keeneland, trainer Chad Brown had the bulk of his championship team working on both the main track and the turf.
“Everything went really, really well this morning, considering everything that was going on,” Brown said, referring to the volume of horses that featured 190 works on the main track. “They all did very well and they will have another work next week, but these were serious works today.”
Highlighting his dirt workers was Jack Christopher (Munnings), who worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 in company with GI Champagne S. winner Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) (video), could head to the GI Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint or the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Blazing Sevens is a candidate for the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
On the turf, three-time Grade I winner Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) worked five furlongs in company with GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf candidate Virginia Joy (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) in 1:01.40 (video). Domestic Spending, who made his most recent start in August of 2021, did not return to the work tab until this past August.
“He worked very, very well this morning and galloped out well,” Brown said of Domestic Spending, who is under consideration for the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile. “We'll see how he is in the morning and then have one more work.”
Other workers for Brown were: Search Results (Flatter) (Distaff), five furlongs in 1:02.60; Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) (Filly and Mare Sprint), five furlongs in 1:00.40; In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) (Filly and Mare Turf), four furlongs on the turf in :49.80; Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) (Mile) and Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) (Filly and Mare Turf), four furlongs together on the turf in :49.20; Raging Sea (Curlin) (Juvenile Fillies) and I'm Very Busy (Cloud Computing) (Juvenile Turf), four furlongs together on the main track in :48.20; and Oxymore (Astern {Aus}) (Juvenile Turf), who worked a half-mile on the main track in :48.80 in company with multiple graded stakes-placed Portfolio Company (Kitten's Joy).
Also working in Lexington Saturday, GI TVG.com Haskell S. winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 in company (video). It was the dark bay's second work since winning the GII Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs Oct. 1.
“It went great,” said jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who was aboard for the work. “Everything was smooth. We sat a few lengths off our company. He was dragging me to go and catch them. Going into the stretch, I just kind of gave him his head and let him finish up. He was well within himself, and he pulled up very happy. Everything seems to be going good right now. He's a very exciting horse. His resume speaks for itself. I'm really looking forward to this opportunity.”
Runner up in the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at 94-1, Hot Rod Charlie finished fourth in last year's Classic at Del Mar.
“Charlie is absolutely bouncing around the barn cooling out,” Doug O'Neill's assistant Stephanie Murray said. “You would never guess that he just went out and worked in a minute. He's just on his toes and has really good energy.”
Also working for O'Neill, GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint candidate Sharp Aza Tack (Sharp Azteca) worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 on the all-weather training track. The colt is coming off a second in the Sept. 8 Global Tote Juvenile Sprint S. at Kentucky Downs. On the main track for the West Coast-based trainer, Dirt Mile contender Slow Down Andy (Nyquist) worked in 1:00.40 for five furlongs in company; Filly and Mare Sprint candidate Awake at Midnyte (Nyquist) in a half-mile solo in :49.40; and Juvenile Fillies candidate Vegas Magic (Good Magic) in 1:00.20 for five furlongs.
“Everybody went super good,” Murray said. “Everything went according to plan. They will all work again next Saturday (Oct. 29).”
O'Neill is scheduled to arrive at Keeneland on Friday.
Also on Saturday's worktab at Keeneland: Simplification (Not This Time) worked five furlongs in 1:00 in preparation for an expected start in the Dirt Mile. Also working for trainer Antonio Sano was Laurel Futurity winner Congruent (Tapit), who breezed five furlongs on the firm turf in 1:02.40. He is a candidate for the Juvenile Turf or the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Trainer Jorge Delgado sent his two Breeders' Cup hopefuls out Saturday, with Sprint hopeful Willy Boi (Uncaptured) working a half-mile in :49.80 and Juvenile runner Awesome Strong (Awesome Slew) working a half-mile in :49.80. GI Frizette runner-up You're My Girl (Overanalyze) worked six panels in 1:13.60 with John Velazquez up for trainer John Terranova. She is a candidate for the Juvenile Fillies. Working on the turf, Private Creed (Jimmy Creed) covered three furlongs in :39.40 for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
