Hot Rod Charlie Survives Inquiry To Win Pennsylvania Derby

The last time they met, Midnight Bourbon clipped Hot Rod Charlie's heels and stumbled in the stretch of the Grade 1 Haskell, shedding rider Paco Lopez and costing Hot Rod Charlie his first G1 stakes win. In the Pennsylvania Derby, Hot Rod Charlie once again tangled with Midnight Bourbon, as the Doug O'Neill trainee almost blew the far turn, getting close enough to Midnight Bourbon in the process that the result yet again went to the stewards. This time, though, Hot Rod Charlie got the decision, getting his first Grade 1 victory at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Penn.

At the break, Hot Rod Charlie with Flavien Prat took the early lead, with Midnight Bourbon and Ricardo Santana, Jr. to his outside, three-quarters of a length back. The two dueled on the front around the first turn and into the backstretch, with Speaker's Corner and Weyburn three lengths back. Hot Rod Charlie kept his advantage throughout, with Midnight Bourbon staying close to him as they rounded the far turn.

With the field still several lengths back, Hot Rod Charlie, running a couple of paths off the rail, went wide out of the far turn, Prat having to take up on him to keep him from blowing the turn altogether. That move took Midnight Bourbon still wider, but Prat was able to straighten his colt out as Midnight Bourbon kept pressuring the leader down the stretch. Hot Rod Charlie was too much for Midnight Bourbon, pulling away to a 2 1/4-length victory.

Immediately after the race, Santana, Jr. lodged a claim of foul for interference against Prat and Hot Rod Charlie. The inquiry sign went up as well, but ultimately the Parx stewards decided to keep the order of finish intact.

The final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:48.63. Find this race's chart here.

Hot Rod Charlie paid $3.80, $2.60, and $2.10. Midnight Bourbon paid $3.60 and $2.40. Americanrevolution paid $3.00.

Bred in Kentucky by Edward A. Cox, Jr., Hot Rod Charlie is by Oxbow out of the Indian Charlie mare Indian Miss. He is owned by Roadrunner Racing, William Strauss, Boat Racing, and Gainesway Stable. Hot Rod Charlie was consigned by Small Batch Sales and purchased by Dennis O'Neill at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale for $110,000. With his win in the G1 Pennsylvania Derby, the 3-year-old colt has two wins in six starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of 11-3-2-3 and career earnings of $2,171,200.

The post Hot Rod Charlie Survives Inquiry To Win Pennsylvania Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Hot Rod Charlie Outbattles Midnight Bourbon in PA Derby

Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), among the most talented horses in training yet to have officially reached the highest level, got his Grade I in Saturday's Pennsylvania Derby–but not without some more drama. He had last been seen getting DQ'd from first to seventh in the GI Haskell Invitational S. at Monmouth July 17 when he crossed over on and clipped heels with Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow), causing that runner to drop Paco Lopez. And it was Midnight Bourbon who again was involved in a controversial stretch drive with Hot Rod Charlie.

Backed at 9-10 to atone for his Haskell transgressions, Hot Rod Charlie went right to the front with Midnight Bourbon locked on to his right flank through opening splits of :23.52 and :47.07. Hot Rod Charlie and Flavien Prat floated Midnight Bourbon very wide into the lane after six furlongs in 1:10.76, but they straightened up for the stretch drive and always seemed to be going better, crossing the wire 2 1/4 lengths to the good of Midnight Bourbon with Americanrevolution (Constitution) a non-threatening third.

The tote board flashed, and the tension mounted, but after some consideration the stewards made what appeared to most to be the right call and let the result stand.

“He broke well and we got ourselves to the lead,” said Prat. “He likes to be forwardly placed. When it was time to go, he kind of looked around… He kind of messed around and swapped leads. I am really happy for the whole team and the connections. I thought I was on the best horse. He was training absolutely perfect going into the race. I was under control for the whole race.”

Steve Asmussen, trainer of the runner-up, was less pleased with the result: “Flavien Prat almost drops Midnight Bourbon for the second time. My horse ran well. He survived.”

A fourth-out graduate going a mile at Santa Anita last October, Hot Rod Charlie was immediately thrown into the deep end after that, but he handled it just fine, running eventual champion Essential Quality (Tapit) to 3/4 of a length at 94-1 in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He defeated Midnight Bourbon by two lengths in the GII Louisiana Derby Mar. 20, and was a close third across the line in the GI Kenucky Derby May 1. Second to Essential Quality in the GI Belmont S. June 5 while earning a strong 108 Beyer Speed Figure, Hot Rod Charlie out-gamed current Derby runner-up Mandaloun (Into Mischief) in the Haskell stretch drive.

“Charlie is a rock star. I'm just a roadie but I am a pumped roadie, that's for sure,” said trainer Doug O'Neill, who was celebrating his first Pennsylvania Derby victory. “I could tell Charlie did not corner as well as he could. But it didn't seem like he affected [Midnight] Bourbon at all, thank God. He seemed like he was clear. Flavien had mentioned maybe putting a set of cheaters on him again. He said he got a little distracted being on the lead, kind of looking around and that might have caused him not to corner as well as he could have. This one did not seem as dramatic as the Monmouth race. For this to come on top of his last race, this was definitely exaggerated and had a long inquiry as well. Thank God he was clear and didn't cause any interference. I was pretty confident they were not going to take him down.”

O'Neill continued, “When you have speed and stamina and class, you can do some crazy, cool things. He displayed today that he has got some special qualities that, if he stays injury free, could lead to big stuff in November. I think he can be a big force in the Breeders' Cup. Obviously there are some big time horses out there that have more experience than him, but he is coming around at a good time.”

Saturday, Parx Racing
PENNSYLVANIA DERBY-GI, $1,000,000, Parx Racing, 9-25, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:48.63, ft.
1–HOT ROD CHARLIE, 124, c, 3, by Oxbow
1st Dam: Indian Miss, by Indian Charlie              
2nd Dam: Glacken's Gal, by Smoke Glacken
3rd Dam: Lady Diplomat, by Silver Deputy
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($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-Flavien Prat. $573,000.
Lifetime Record: 11-3-2-3, $2,171,200. *1/2 to Mitole
(Eskendereya), Ch. Male Sprinter, MGISW, $3,104,910.
Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross
pedigree.
2–Midnight Bourbon, 124, c, 3, Tiznow–Catch the Moon, by
Malibu Moon. ($525,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Winchell
Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings
LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $191,000.
3–Americanrevolution, 122, c, 3, Constitution–Polly Freeze,
by Super Saver. ($275,000 Ylg '19 SARAUG). O-CHC Inc. &
WinStar Farm LLC; B-Fred W. Hertrich III & John D. Fielding
(NY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $95,500.
Margins: 2 1/4, 4HF, 2 1/4. Odds: 0.90, 3.70, 8.40.
Also Ran: Fulsome, Bourbonic, Speaker's Corner, I Am Redeemed, Weyburn. Scratched: Keepmeinmind, Medina Spirit.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:

One of seven black-type winners–and the first at Grade I level–for his sire Oxbow, Hot Rod Charlie is the third Grade I winner produced by a daughter of Indian Charlie after his half-brother, 2019 Eclipse Champion Sprinter Mitole (Eskendereya), and GI Frizette S. winner Dayoutoftheoffice (Into Mischief).

The fifth foal, runner and winner out of the placed Indian Miss, Hot Rod Charlie is her second at the highest level after Mitole, who won the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint among four Grade I victories. She sold for $1.9 million to Larry Best's OXO Equine carrying to Into Mischief at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale. Indian Miss threw a filly by Into Mischief in 2019-also an OXO Equine purchase at $525,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale–and a colt by that sire this term. A half-sister to GII Davona Dale S. heroine Live Lively (Medaglia d'Oro), she visited the court of Instagrand earlier this year.

The post Hot Rod Charlie Outbattles Midnight Bourbon in PA Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

TVG To Broadcast Pennsylvania Derby Card Live From Parx This Saturday

Top sophomores Hot Rod Charlie and Midnight Bourbon will face off on Saturday in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) from Parx Racing in Bensalem, Penn. and TVG will be broadcasting live throughout the thirteen-race card which includes eight total stakes races.

TVG's Rich Perloff will be trackside with exclusive interviews, analysis and handicapping selections throughout the card. In addition to the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1), the card will also feature some of the top three-year-old fillies in the country in the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1).

It was announced on Tuesday that Medina Spirit, the 2-1 morning line favorite, would be a scratch out of the race leaving a field of nine. Hot Rod Charlie, disqualified from his first-place finish in the TVG Haskell (G1) and placed seventh for interference in the stretch, will be trying to earn his second stakes win of the year for trainer Doug O'Neill. The bay son of Oxbow was third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and second in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and will have Flavien Prat aboard. Midnight Bourbon, second in the Travers Stakes (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) for trainer Steve Asmussen, will have Ricardo Santana, Jr. in the irons.

The $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1) drew a field of nine and is expected to go to post with eight contenders with the scratch of Private Mission. Clairiere, a homebred for Stonestreet Stables, is the 2-1 morning line favorite for Steve Asmussen. Ricardo Santana, Jr. will be aboard the daughter of Curlin who was last seen finishing second in the Alabama Stakes (G1).

The undercard will also feature multiple Grade 1 winner Jackie's Warrior as he faces six rivals in the $300,000 Gallant Bob Stakes (G2). Trained by Steve Asmussen, the bay colt was last seen winning the H. Allen Jerkens (G1) at Saratoga by a neck. Regular rider Joel Rosario will retain the mount.

Three-year-olds will also take center stage at Remington Park on Sunday and TVG's Dave Weaver will be reporting live from the track featuring a twelve-race card anchored by the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3). The field of eight includes Warrant, the 5-2 morning line favorite for trainer Brad Cox. Bred and owned by Twin Creeks Farm, the son of Constitution won the Texas Derby in May and was second in the West Virginia Derby (G3). Joel Rosario has the mount.

In addition to racing from the Parx Racing and Remington Park, TVG will also be featuring Los Alamitos, Gulfstream Park and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

The post TVG To Broadcast Pennsylvania Derby Card Live From Parx This Saturday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Winchell Has Strong Hand With Midnight Bourbon, Silver State At Parx

Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC's Midnight Bourbon, 3-1 morning line second choice will try to capture his first Grade 1 victory in Saturday's $1 million Pennsylvania Derby, and enters after falling short of victory by a neck in the Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga.

Multiple graded stakes winner Silver State owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Willis Horton Racing, will look to begin another win streak in the $200,000 Parx Dirt Mile after his string of six consecutive victories came to an end in the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, both look to be strong contenders according to Winchell's Racing Manager David Fiske.

“I think both spots are really good for them,” Fiske said. “The two-turn mile for Silver State should set him up for the Breeders' Cup Mile. Midnight Bourbon, he keeps knocking on the door. I think eventually he's going to knock one of these off. He's a really cool horse. Big personality. I saw a little video of him schooling in the paddock yesterday. Man, he looked like something else.”

Midnight Bourbon began the year with a victory in the Grade 3 Lecomte at Fair Grounds and then added a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Risen Star, also in Louisiana.

Next came a second in the Louisiana Derby before finishing sixth in the Kentucky Derby.

The colt by Tiznow then added a runner-up finish in the Preakness, before clipping heels with Hot Rod Charlie in the stretch run during the Grade 1 Haskell and losing jockey Paco Lopez.

“Hopefully, Saturday is his turn,” said Fiske. “It's been a peculiar year. Most years, the field for the Kentucky Derby evaporates the day after the Derby. This year we've had Essential Quality, Midnight Bourbon, Hot Rod Charlie, Medina Spirit — even though he scratched — he's still going. There are a lot of them out there and they're all quality colts.”

As far as Midnight Bourbon goes, Fiske knows this:

“He's a cool horse,” he said. “He seems to show up every time. He ran well in the Preakness, ran well in the Travers, ran well in the Derby. He's just a cool customer. He's a high energy guy. You need to be on your toes around him all the time.”

Silver State ended his 3-year-old year with a seventh-place finish in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, then returned the following year with a seven-length victory against allowance competition at Keeneland. From there the son of Hard Spun added three more victories before returning to face graded stakes competition where he won the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap and Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap

“It's unusual for any horse to win that many races in a row,” Fiske said. “We had a horse a long time ago that won an Eclipse Award named Tight Spot. He won eight in a row. Then, we had a little horse that ran fourth in the Derby [1981 Kentucky Derby] named Classic Go Go that Tony Black rode. He won seven in a row. One of those was at the old Keystone Park as a matter of fact. He would win a race on Saturday then win a race at Keystone on Thursday. He made 26 starts as a 3-year-old. You do the math on that.”

The post Winchell Has Strong Hand With Midnight Bourbon, Silver State At Parx appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights