Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie was en route to Dubai Monday for the $12 million, Group 1 Dubai World Cup on March 26. The son of Oxbow is scheduled to have a prep race there on Feb. 4 for the World Cup.
The popular 4-year-old colt had his final workout at Santa Anita Saturday for the 1 1/4-mile World Cup at Meydan Race Course, going five furlongs in 1:01.20.
Hot Rod Charlie won the 2021 Secretariat Vox Populi Award created by Secretariat's owner Penny Chenery, annually recognizing the horse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the general public and gained recognition for Thoroughbred racing.
Flight time from Los Angeles to Dubai is approximately 16 hours, covering some 8,300 miles.
“He's a good shipper,” trainer Doug O'Neill said. “He absolutely loves it. He loves traveling.
“He went fantastic in his breeze here and we're super-optimistic. We're going one day at a time, but as we speak, he's doing really well.
“He'll be surrounded by all his normal people from our staff, and Dubai's racing department has been great with us in the past.
“We're really looking forward to getting over there and experiencing it again.”
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