Tag: Hot Rod Charlie

Maxfield Retains Top Spot In Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings

Godolphin's 4-year-old Maxfield, winner of the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) on June 26, retained his lead over Mystic Guide and Essential Quality following the second week of voting in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, a weekly rating of the top 10 horses in contention for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). This year's Longines Breeders' Cup Classic will be run at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 6 as the final race of the 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Maxfield, who has also won the Mineshaft Stakes (G3) and the Alysheba Stakes (G2) this year for trainer Brendan Walsh, leads all Classic contenders with 18 first-place votes and 300 total votes. The 4-year-old Mystic Guide remains in second place despite his defeat by a neck to Max Player in Saturday's “Win and You're In” Suburban (G2) at Belmont Park. Trained by Mike Stidham, Mystic Guide, the Dubai World Cup (G1) winner, has 276 votes. Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Essential Quality, also owned by Godolphin, is in third place. Trained by Brad Cox, Essential Quality, winner of the 2020 TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1), has 268 votes.

Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, and William Strauss's Hot Rod Charlie, second in the Belmont Stakes, remains in fourth place with 175 votes for trainer Doug O'Neill. Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's 4-year-old Silver State, unbeaten in four starts this year, is in fifth place with 122 votes. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Silver State has won the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and Belmont's Metropolitan Handicap (G1), a “Win and You're In” for the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) this year.

The big mover in the poll this week was Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go, who dominated the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3) last Friday with a 10 ¼-length victory. Also trained by Cox, Knicks Go, the 2020 Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner, jumps from 11th to sixth place with 117 votes. WinStar Farm's 4-year-old Country Grammer, winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) at Santa Anita Park, retains seventh place with 105 votes.

Wertheimer and Frere's 4-year-old Happy Saver suffered his first career defeat after five wins when he finished third in the Suburban. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Happy Saver (84 votes) dropped from sixth to eighth place.

St. George Stable's 5-year-old mare Letruska stayed in ninth place with 80 votes. Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, Letruska has won four of five starts this year, including a 5 ¾-length victory in the Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs on June 26.

Juddmonte's Mandaloun is the third Cox-trained horse in the top 10. Second in the Kentucky Derby (G1), Mandaloun (71 votes) dropped from eighth to 10th place.

The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings are determined by a panel of leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers, and members of the Breeders' Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. Rankings will be announced each week through Oct. 11. A list of voting members can be found here.

In the Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.

Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings – July 6, 2021*

Rank Horse Votes First-Place Votes Previous Week
1 Maxfield 300 18 1
2 Mystic Guide 276 10 2
3 Essential Quality 268 3 3
4 Hot Rod Charlie 175 0 4
5 Silver State 122 0 5
6 Knicks Go 117 1 11
7 Country Grammer 105 1 7
8 Happy Saver 84 0 6
9 Letruska 80 0 9
10 Mandaloun 71 0 8

*Note – The Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Breeders' Cup Classic.

The 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run at 1 ¼ miles on the main track, is limited to 14 starters. The race will be broadcast live on NBC.

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‘Matured’ Hot Rod Charlie Could Run Without Blinkers In Haskell

Third in the Kentucky Derby and second in the Belmont Stakes, Hot Rod Charlie has been confirmed for the G1 Haskell Invitational on July 17 after a six-furlong work in 1:11.60 this Friday, reports bloodhorse.com. The 3-year-old son of Oxbow will breeze at Santa Anita again on July 9, then fly east the following day.

Trainer Doug O'Neill was extremely pleased with the colt's penultimate breeze, for which jockey Flavien Prat was aboard. Hot Rod Charlie went without blinkers, as he has several times this year, and O'Neill is strongly considering removing the equipment for the Haskell.

“It's one of those deals where the blinkers helped him focus and become the racehorse he's become, but as he has matured, Flavien says he seems very happy without them,” O'Neill told bloodhorse.com. “We're hoping that obviously with some of these stretch duels that racing without them will tip us over onto the winning end of a stretch duel. We just wanted to try it in the mornings. So far, it's been a good experience. As it stands right now, more than likely 'Charlie' will run without blinkers in the Haskell.”

The Haskell is a “Win and You're In” race for the Breeders' Cup Classic this fall at Del Mar. Other top 3-year-olds under consideration for the nine-furlong contest include Mandaloun and Rombauer.

Read more at bloodhorse.com.

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Mandaloun, Rombauer Top 16 Nominees To Haskell

Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, Preakness winner Rombauer and the runners-up from all three Triple Crown races top the list of 16 nominations to the $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes on July 17 at Monmouth Park, racing secretary John Heims and stakes coordinator Dove Ward announced Wednesday.

The Grade 1 Haskell Stakes is a “Win And You're In” race for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Medina Spirit, trained by Bob Baffert, has not raced since winning the Kentucky Derby on May 1. Baffert has won the Haskell a record nine times. Baffert has indicated that the Haskell may come “too soon” for Medina Spirit.

Rombauer finished third in the Belmont Stakes after pulling off a mild surprise in the Preakness by winning at odds of 11-1. Michael McCarthy trains the Kentucky-bred son of Twirling Candy.

The connections of Kentucky Derby runner-up Mandaloun, Preakness runner-up Midnight Bourbon and Belmont Stakes runner-up Hot Rod Charlie have all indicated they are strongly considering the Haskell Stakes, as are the connections of Rombauer, according to Heims.

Mandaloun prepped for Monmouth Park's showcase event by winning the TVG.com Pegasus Stakes at the track on June 13.

Louisiana Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie, third in the Kentucky Derby, waged an epic stretch battle with Essential Quality in the Belmont Stakes before grudgingly giving way late and finishing second.

The Haskell Stakes, at a mile and an eighth, headlines a card that includes the Grade 1 United Nations at a mile and three-eighths on the grass. The United Nations closed with 22 nominations.

There are three other graded stakes races on the Haskell undercard.

The full list of nominations to the 54th TVG.com Haskell Stakes:

  • Antigravity
  • Basso
  • Brooklyn Strong
  • Defunded
  • Dr Jack
  • Dynamic One
  • Following Sea
  • Hot Rod Charlie
  • Lugamo
  • Mahaamel
  • Mandaloun
  • Medina Spirit
  • Midnight Bourbon
  • Pickin' Time
  • Rombauer
  • Weyburn

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Three Godolphin Runners Top First Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings Of 2021

Godolphin's 4-year-old Maxfield, dominant winner of the Saturday's Stephen Foster Stakes (G2), leads fellow Godolphin stars Mystic Guide and Essential Quality in the first week of tabulated votes for the 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings. The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings are a weekly rating of the top 10 horses in contention for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), which will be run at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 6.

Maxfield, a 4-year-old son of 2006 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Street Sense, topped all Classic contenders with 13 first-place votes and 269 total votes. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Maxfield earned a “Win and You're In” berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic with a runaway 3 ¼-length triumph in the 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs. The victory was Maxfield's third this year, which also includes wins in the Mineshaft Stakes (G3) at the Fair Grounds and the Alysheba Stakes (G2) at Churchill. His only defeat in eight starts was a third-place finish in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) in March.

Mystic Guide, trained by Mike Stidham, is in second place with 17 first-place votes and 261 total votes. A 4-year-old son of 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Ghostzapper, Mystic Guide is two for two this year, winning the Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park and the Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydan. Mystic Guide is slated to start in this Saturday's Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park, a “Win and You're In,” for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. The Suburban will be broadcast live on NBC (5 p.m. ET) as a part of the “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In presented by America's Best Racing.”

The Brad Cox-trained 3-year-old Essential Quality, winner of the Belmont Stakes (G1), is in third place with 245 votes. A son of Tapit, Essential Quality, last year's TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) winner, and champion 2-year-old male, has won three of four starts this year.

Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing and William Straus's 3-year-old Hot Rod Charlie, a hard-fought second to Essential Quality in the Belmont, is in fourth place with 160 votes. Trained by Doug O'Neill, Hot Rod Charlie, a son of Oxbow, won the Louisiana Derby (G2) in March, and finished third in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's 4-year-old Silver State, unbeaten in four starts this year, is in fifth place with 118 votes. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Silver State won the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and Belmont's Metropolitan Handicap (G1), a “Win and You're In” for the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Asmussen saddled Curlin and Gun Runner to Breeders' Cup Classic victories.

The undefeated Happy Saver, owned by Wertheimer and Frere, is in sixth place with 106 votes. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Happy Saver, a 4-year-old son of Super Saver, won an allowance optional claiming race at Belmont Park on May 28 in his lone start this year. Winner of last year's Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), Happy Saver is also expected to start in Saturday's Suburban Stakes.

WinStar Farm's 4-year-old Country Grammer, also expected to start in the Suburban, is in seventh place with 100 votes. In his two starts at Santa Anita Park this year, Country Grammer, a son of Tonalist, was second in the Californian Stakes (G2) and then won the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1). Country Grammer is now trained by Pletcher.

Mandaloun, second in the Kentucky Derby, is in eighth place with 78 votes. Owned by Juddmonte and trained by Brad Cox, Mandaloun, a 3-year-old son of Into Mischief, won the Risen Star (G2) at the Fair Grounds and the listed Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park in his most recent start on June 13.

St. George Stable's 5-year-old mare Letruska is in ninth place with 71 votes. Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, Letruska has won four of five starts this year, including Saturday's powerful 5 ¾-length victory in the Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) at Churchill.

Rounding out the top 10 is Fox Hill Farms and Siena Farm's 5-year-old gelding Royal Ship (BRZ). Trained by Richard Mandella, Royal Ship (60 votes), a son of 2008 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Midshipman, won the Californian and finished second in the Hollywood Gold Cup.

The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings are determined by a panel of leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers and members of the Breeders' Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. Rankings will be announced each week through Oct. 11. A list of voting members can be found here.

In the Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.

Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings – June 29, 2021*

Rank Horse Total Votes First-Place Votes
1 Maxfield 269 13
2 Mystic Guide 261 17
3 Essential Quality 245 1
4 Hot Rod Charlie 160 0
5 Silver State 118 0
6 Happy Saver 106 0
7 Country Grammer 100 1
8 Mandaloun 78 0
9 Letruska 71 0
10 Royal Ship (BRZ) 60 0

 *Note – The Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Breeders' Cup Classic.

The 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run at 1 ¼ miles on the main track, is limited to 14 starters. The race will be broadcast live on NBC.

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