Hot Rod Charlie | Horse Racing Free Tips

Hot Rod Charlie Wins In Dubai

The G1 Dubai World Cup was nominated late last season as the next major goal for the Grade I-winning and dual Classic-placed Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), and the 4-year-old will head to that $12-million contest on Mar. 26 a key contender after a five-length victory in Friday's G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 at Meydan.

Hot Rod Charlie was caught on the wire last out in the GII San Antonio S. going 1700 metres at Santa Anita, but he had no such trouble in the Al Maktoum Challenge over a furlong further.

Away well, Hot Rod Charlie's was one of four heads bobbing for the lead as the field passed the finish line for the first time, and his rail trip gave him the advantage as they rounded the first turn. Al Nefud (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), the winner of his last two starts over the course, was not keen to allow the American raider an easy lead, and he came wide to put his head in front as they straightened for the run down the backstretch. It was Hot Rod Charlie's red noseband that was once again in front, however, as they cornered for the second time, and though Al Nefud gave it a valiant try, Hot Rod Charlie shook him off with a few reminders from William Buick's stick and eventually drew clear to win by a comfortable 5 1/4 lengths. Al Nefud stuck on for second, while the 2019 GI Preakness S. second Everfast (Take Charge Indy), who won his local debut on Dec. 2, was third.

California-based trainer Doug O'Neill has sent a string over for the carnival, and he got off to a winning start earlier on the card with Get Back Goldie (Goldencents) winning the second race. O'Neill, who made the trip over for the card, said before the race he thought Hot Rod Charlie was at about 70%.

“I think I had probably overtrained him going into his last race, and for this race, purposely with the travel, we undertrained him a bit,” he said. “He ran super and now we have a big gap before the next one so we're super excited and flying high.

“The plan is that we'll keep him here and we'll have nice spacing until the World Cup, so now we just have to keep him injury-free. We're super excited.”

A $17,000 short yearling purchase in 2019 who was pinhooked for $110,000 when bought by Doug O'Neill's brother Dennis eight months later, Hot Rod Charlie broke his maiden at fourth asking at two and blew up the tote board when a 100-1 second to Essential Quality (Tapit) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland in 2020. Beaten a neck when third behind eventual GI Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit (Protonico) in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. back at Santa Anita to kick off his 3-year-old campaign, Hot Rod Charlie won the GII Louisiana Derby en route to Churchill Downs. He finished third behind Medina Spirit and Mandaloun (Into Mischief) in the Kentucky Derby, and was second to Essential Quality in the GI Belmont S. after setting a hot pace that he only surrendered late on. Hot Rod Charlie's run of hard luck continued in the GI Haskell S. when he hit the wire first, but was disqualified and placed last for crossing over too closely in front of Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) in the lane, causing that rival to stumble badly and lose his rider. Hot Rod Charlie at last got his Grade I next out in the GI Pennsylvania Derby, but not before his connections had to sweat out an inquiry after he floated Midnight Bourbon wide coming off the turn. Hot Rod Charlie was fourth behind Knicks Go (Paynter) in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

Pedigree Notes

Hot Rod Charlie is the fifth foal out of Indian Miss (Indian Charlie), and is a half-brother to champion sprinter and four-time Grade I winner and young sire Mitole (Eskendereya). Indian Miss, who was bought by Larry Best's OXO Equine for $1.9-million at Keeneland November in 2020, has an as-yet unraced 3-year-old filly by Into Mischief named Indigo Miss, a yearling colt also by Into Mischief and she has already foaled a colt by Instagrand this season. Indian Miss is out of the listed-winning Glacken's Gal (Smoke Glacken) and is a half-sister to the GII Davona Dale S. winner Live Lively (Medaglia d'Oro).

Friday, Meydan, Dubai
AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE R2 PRESENTED BY THE LONGINES RECORD-G2, $350,000, Meydan, 2-4, 3yo/up, 9 1/2f, 1:57.41, fs.
1–HOT ROD CHARLIE, 125, c, 4, by Oxbow
                1st Dam: Indian Miss, by Indian Charlie
                2nd Dam: Glacken's Gal, by Smoke Glacken
                3rd Dam: Lady Diplomat, by Silver Deputy
($17,000 Ylg '19 FTKFEB; $110,000 Ylg '19 FTKOCT). O-Boat
Racing, LLC, Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck), Roadrunner
Racing & William Strauss; B-Edward A. Cox (KY); T-Doug F.
O'Neill; J-William Buick. $210,000. Lifetime Record: GISW-US,
14-4-3-3, $2,721,633. *1/2 to Mitole (Eskendereya),
Ch. Sprinter & MGISW-US, $3,104,910. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Al Nefud (GB), 125, g, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Albasharah, by Arch.
(UAE425,000 HRA '21 RACINGINDUBAI). O-Al Rashid Stables
LLC; B-Godolphin (GB); T-Bhupat Seemar. $70,000.
3–Everfast, 126, g, 6, Take Charge Indy–Awesome Surprise, by
Awesome Again. ($47,000 Ylg '17 KEEJAN). O-Kildare Stud –
Frankie O'Connor; B-Extern Developments (KY); T-Doug
Watson. $35,000.
Margins: 5 1/4, 7HF, 3/4.
Also Ran: For The Top (Arg), Thegreatcollection, Go On, New Trails, Eastern World (Ire), Roman Rosso (Arg), Fire Group, Quip, Kafoo. Click for the Emirates Racing chart. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.

The post Hot Rod Charlie Wins In Dubai appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Charlie Heats Up Carnival

GISW Hot Rod Charlie Preps For The Dubai World Cup
Doug O'Neill's Grade I winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), one of five runners for the GI Kentucky Derby-winning trainer on Meydan's Dubai World Cup Carnival Friday card, is easily the highest-rated horse to compete on the day, and he gains the services of William Buick, Godolphin being without a runner in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2. After finishing second at 100-1 in the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Hot Rod Charlie franked that form to be one of last year's most consistent and talented American 3-year-olds, albeit one of the most unlucky, too. Third in the GI Kentucky Derby, he set a burning pace in the GI Belmont S. only to be caught late on by Essential Quality, and though he crossed the wire first in the GI Haskell Invitational, he was disqualified and placed last, having changed paths too close to a rival in the stretch, causing the rival to clip heels and lose his rider. Hot Rod Charlie at last got his Grade I win in the Pennsylvania Derby, and was fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic and second by a nose when last seen in the GII San Antonio S. on Boxing Day. His ultimate goal for the carnival is the G1 Dubai World Cup at the end of March.

3-Year-Old Milers Face Off In Jumeirah Classic
Friday's third race at Meydan, the Listed Jumeirah Classic, could produce runners that make an impact during the European flat season. Godolphin's New Science (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) beat the subsequent dual Group 1 winner Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) when winning the Listed Pat Eddery S. at Ascot in July, and was last seen finishing fourth, beaten two lengths, in the G3 Prix la Rochette. The Charlie Appleby trainee locks horns with stablemate Sovereign Prince (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who broke his maiden at Epsom in September and enters off a win in the Jan. 14 1400-metre Jumeirah Classic Trial, with KHK Racing's Sed Maarib (American Pharoah) and Amo Racing's listed winner Mr Professor (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) second and third that day. That duo were fourth and fifth to another Godolphin luminary in the lightly raced Island Falcon (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) from Saeed bin Suroor's stable, who took the Jumeirah Derby Trial over 1800 metres of turf on Jan. 21 in his third start.

Could Secret Image Be The Next Dark Angel Dirt Star?
Dark Angel (Ire) progeny have gotten off to a strong start this carnival, with Golden Goal (Ire) and Real World (Ire) winning pattern races within the first three weeks of the carnival. Golden Goal is one of 13 black-type winners for Dark Angel on the dirt, and with trainer Saeed bin Suroor keeping options open on both surfaces for Real World, it is very likely that Dark Angel could have two serious contenders for the Gulf region's most important dirt races this season. Another could emerge on Friday in Godolphin's Goodwood maiden winner Secret Image (Ire), who lines up in a weak renewal of the Al Bastakiya Trial on the G2 UAE Derby trail. Secret Image tries the dirt for the first time in his fourth start. His half-brother Gold Town (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}) won the 2018 G3 UAE 2000 Guineas, while his dam, the stakes winner and group-placed Pimpernel (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), was second in the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas in 2012. He will have William Buick in the irons for Charlie Appleby and leaves from gate 13.

Talented Creative Flair Seeks First Pattern Win
Creative Flair (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a listed winner at Newbury last June, aims for her first win at the group level in the G2 Balanchine at Meydan. The Charlie Appleby trainee and great granddaughter of blue hen Arc heroine Urban Sea (Miswaki) led for most of the G3 Prix Chloe, but tired to be third in July, and was not beaten far in a pair of American outings to wrap up her 3-year-old campaign when third in the G3 Saratoga Oaks and fourth in the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational. Creative Flair returns against some stiff competition in the 1800-metre affair. Another Godolphin chance, Saeed bin Suroor charge Soft Whisper (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), put her stamp on the 2021 Listed UAE 1000 Guineas, while Al Rashid Stables' Mnasek (Empire Maker) is also looking for redemption, with her last win in the Feb. 18 G3 UAE Oaks. The pair were defeated in the G2 Cape Verdi by Pevensey Bay (Ger) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) for Hiroo Shimizu.

Click here for the group fields.

The post Charlie Heats Up Carnival appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

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.

Source of original post

After Eventful Campaign, Mandaloun Returns at Fair Grounds

Mandaloun (Into Mischief) finished second in the GI Kentucky Derby and will be declared the winner if Medina Spirit (Protonico) is ever disqualified for a betamethasone positive. He didn't cross the wire first in the GI Haskell S. either, but was awarded the win after the stewards disqualified Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) for interference. It pays to be both lucky and good.

But a page has been turned and Mandaloun will kick off his 4-year-old season Saturday at the Fair Grounds in the GIII Louisiana S., the first step in a campaign where he very well could prove that he can win at the Grade I level without the assistance of the stewards or a drug testing laboratory.

“You're always looking forward to a horses maturing and getting faster as they get older,” said his trainer, Brad Cox. “He's trained really well and his gallop-outs are really good. He's in a really good place right now, mentally and physically. I think this is a good spot to get him back started and see where he takes us.”

Mandaloun, 26-1 in the Derby, exceeded most expectations to finish second, a half-length behind the Bob Baffert-trained Medina Spirit. More than eight months later, there hasn't been a word from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission about Medina Spirit's positive, one reason among many that it could take years for the 2021 Derby to be declared official. It's not something that Cox is worried about.

“I don't think about it,” Cox said of the Derby. “I really don't and that's because it is out of my hands. I've got enough going on that I don't need to worry about what ifs or what's going to happen. It's not the way you want to win a race of that caliber, so we'll just keep marching forward and develop Mandaloun and do enough with him to try to enhance his resume and get him off to the stallion barn where he can make some big, beautiful babies.”

Mandaloun skipped both the GI Preakness S. and the GI Belmont S. before resurfacing at Monmouth Park. He won the Pegasus, a prep for the Haskell, and then finished a nose behind Hot Rod Charlie in the the Haskell. Hot Rod Charlie was disqualified for bothering Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow).

“He was coming back on Hot Rod Charlie that day,” Cox said. “Obviously, Hot Rod Charlie got to the wire first, but I think that in a couple more jumps we could have got to him. It was a very courageous race and he showed a lot of grit and determination. It was really good race and it made him a Grade I winner.”

Mandaloun has not raced since the July 17 Haskell.

“He was asking for a break,” Cox said. “I wasn't real happy with his weight post-Haskell. He had two long ships from Churchill and it was really hot at Monmouth when he was there. He wasn't quire right. We did all the diagnostics on him and we never did find anything. We gave him some time and he's come back a fit, happy, healthy horse.”

In most Grade IIIs, a horse with Mandaloun's resume would be a heavy favorite, but he has to contend with Midnight Bourbon once again. It will be the fifth meeting between the two. Midnight Bourbon won last year's GIII Lecomte S. over Mandaloun but Mandaloun finished in front of his rival the next three times they met, including in the Derby where Midnight Bourbon was sixth. Midnight Bourbon is making his first start since finishing third in the Nov. 26 GI Clark S. at Churchill Downs.

“We've won this race twice and this is definitely the toughest edition we've ever been part of,” said Cox, who will also send out GIII Oklahoma Derby winner Warrant (Constitution) in the Louisiana. “Midnight Bourbon is a very good horse and I think they're thinking the same way we are, that this is a stepping stone to bigger and better things down the road. It's an opportunity for both horses to race out of their own stall, get a race under their belts and get their year kicked off.”

Cox said that Mandaloun's schedule beyond the Louisiana has yet to be determined, but the Feb. 26 GI Saudi Cup could be next for the colt owned by Juddmonte.

“(Juddmonte General Manager) Garrett O'Rourke will get together with the Juddmonte team and come up with a game plan in regards to the Saudi Cup and see of that is something we want to turn our attention toward,” Cox said. “For me, the mindset is it's one step at a time. Hopefully, he makes a good account of himself Saturday and then a race like the Saudi Cup could be part of his future.”

Cox has lost a likely Eclipse Award winner in Essential Quality (Tapit) to the breeding shed where he will soon be joined by former stablemate Knicks Go (Paynter). The latter, a cinch to be named Horse of the Year and champion older male, will be retired after starting in the Jan. 29 Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. That will leave a big void in the Cox barn, but he's optimistic it is one that Mandaloun can fill.

“This horse has always trained well,” Cox said. “Since the fall of his 2-year-old season we thought he was a horse that could take us to the Kentucky Derby, and he did. Had a great season last year and we're hopeful he can do even better this year.”

The post After Eventful Campaign, Mandaloun Returns at Fair Grounds appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post