Tag: Racing

Saturday's Grade 2, $500,000 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., didn't deserve a loser. But following a thrilling stretch run in the ninth running of the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up, it was a determined Hot Rod Charlie who re-rallied along the inside rail to hang a head defeat on this year's Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Rich Strike, who briefly took the lead inside the final sixteenth of a mile and looked as if he'd continue his success beneath the Twin Spires.

Hot Rod Charlie, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione and trained by Doug O'Neill, clocked 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:49.77 for owners Roadrunner Racing (Greg Helm), Boat Racing (Patrick O'Neill), William Strauss and Gainesway Thoroughbreds (Anthony Beck).

“Tyler (Gaffalione) gave him a great ride,” O'Neill said. “He's one of those type of horses that I'd love to have blinkers on him for half the race and take them off for the other half. It was an incredible effort. Rich Strike ran a winning race as well. He ran huge. (Hot Rod Charlie) is a great horse and we're so lucky to have him.”

Added Rich Strike's trainer Eric Reed: “It's a tough beat but we are so proud of the step forward our horse took today. It was a big ask of him to run against these type of older horses and he proved he is just as talented. He was a little bit closer to the pace today but he was still able to fight hard to the wire.”

Sent to post as the 6-5 favorite, Grade 1-winner Hot Rod Charlie sat just off the right hip of Charles Town Classic (G2) winner Art Collector, who led the field of six through fractions :23.55, :47.94 and 1:11.77. Happy Saver, winner of the 2020 Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI), tracked in third and Rich Strike was closer than usual in fourth.

Around the final turn, Hot Rod Charlie engaged Art Collector and the two ran head and head as jockey Sonny Leon urged Rick Strike to make his move. The Derby winner responded from the outside and loomed boldly with a furlong to run. Rich Strike gained a head advantage from Hot Rod Charlie inside the sixteenth pole and looked as if he might become the first Derby winner since 1997 champion Silver Charm to return to Churchill Downs victorious. However, Hot Rod Charlie never wavered and fought on gamely to re-rally and prevail in a tight photo finish.

“Doug (O'Neill) and his team really had him ready to run today,” Gaffalione said. “We broke well and he doesn't really have to be asked to get into a good spot. He really never gave up on me. (Rich Strike) ran a huge effort and my horse just kept on fighting the entire way. He really didn't want to get beat.”

Overall, Hot Rod Charlie has won five of 18 starts with six seconds and three thirds. The $305,520 first prize boosted his career earnings to $5,556,720.

This was Hot Rod Charlie's fourth stakes win. At 3, he won the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) and $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2). Earlier this year, Hot Rod Charlie won the $350,000 Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan Racecourse before finishing second to Country Grammer in the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1).

His next target is the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (GI) on Nov. 5 at Keeneland.

“I couldn't tell live if we won and had to look up at the screen,” said co-owner Bill Strauss. “He's a game horse and Doug (O'Neill) and his team did a great job. He's based over at Keeneland and we're excited to go down the road for the Breeders' Cup. The Breeders' Cup is setting up to be a great race as a fan and as an owner it's great to have a game horse like this.”

Hot Rod Charlie returned $4.66, $3.20 and $2.32. Rich Strike, at odds of 9-2, paid $4.68 and $3.22. It was another 4 ¼ lengths back to King Fury in third under Brian Hernandez Jr. who paid $4.20 to show at odds of 16-1.

Happy Saver, Art Collector and Chess Chief completed the order of finish.

Hot Rod Charlie, a dark bay or brown son of Oxbow out of the Indian Charlie mare Indian Miss, was bred in Kentucky by Edward A. Cox Jr.

The Lukas Classic honors the iconic 87-year-old Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The four-time winner of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks and conditioner of 26 Eclipse Award-winning champions has been based at Churchill Downs' Barn 44 since 1989. He was on hand to present the trophy.

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Favored Beyond Brilliant scored an impressive gate to wire victory under Victor Espinoza in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 City of Hope Mile Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., as he controlled the pace en route to a three-quarter length win while negotiating the mile on turf in 1:32.61.  Trained by John Shirreffs and owned by Lee and Susan Searing's C R K Stable, the 4-year-old colt by Twirling Candy registered his second win from four starts this year and his third overall graded stakes win.

A disappointing sixth as the 8-5 favorite in going 1 1/8 miles on turf in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes July 31, Beyond Brilliant was off at 4-5 in a field of six 3-year-olds and up and paid $3.80, $2.40 and $2.20.

Out of the First Defence mare Summer On the Lawn, Beyond Brilliant is now 14-5-3-2 and with the winner's share of $120,000, he boosted his earnings to $706,780. A pair of Irish-breds, both trained by Phil D'Amato, checked second and third.

Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Cathkin Peak, off at 5-2, finished 2 ¼ lengths in front of Prince Abama and paid $3.20 and $2.40.

With Juan Hernandez up, Prince Abama was off at 5-1 and $3.00 to show while finishing a head on front of Kanderel.

Fractions on the race were 22.67, 46.16, 1:09.37 and 1:21.01.

JOCKEY QUOTES

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Comfortable throughout, Phil D'Amato's Masteroffoxhounds took five rivals on a merry chase in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., prevailing by a neck under Umberto Rispoli while getting a mile and one quarter on turf in 1:59.79.

Named for racing's Hall of Fame superstar gelding who upon his retirement at age nine in 1984 was Thoroughbred racing's all-time leading money earner with more than $6.5 million, the John Henry trophy was presented by his Hall of Fame conditioner, 90-year-old Ron McAnally.

Breaking from post position four, Masteroffoxhounds immediately settled into a comfortable gallop under Rispoli while in hand through splits of 24.51, 48.88, 1:13.74 and 1:37 flat. Masteroffoxhounds opened up 2 ½ lengths on longshot Breakpoint a quarter mile out and held off the late charge of Dicey Mo Chara and Gold Phoenix on the money to give D'Amato his third John Henry win.

Winless in his last nine starts, eight of them graded stakes, Masteroffoxhounds was off as the 2-1 second choice and paid $6.20, $3.60 and $2.10.

Owned by Gary Hartunian's Rockingham Ranch, Masteroffoxhounds notched his second graded stakes victory and his fourth overall from 19 starts.  A 5-year-old horse by War Front out of Galileo mare Outstanding, Masteroffoxhounds picked up $120,000 for the win, increasing his earnings to $496,042.

Third early, English-bred Dicey Mo Chara, off at 6-1 with Ryan Curatolo, finished a head in front of 6-5 favorite Gold Phoenix and paid $5.60 and $2.40.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Gold Phoenix put in a good late bid but never threatened his front-running stable mate to return $2.10 to show.

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