The season isn’t over yet for Hot Rod Charlie .
Last seen the 3-year-old win the 1st grade for fourth place in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) November 6 at Del Mar. But he will take another hit on older foes on December 26 in the $200,000 San Antonio Stakes (G2) on Santa Anita . ParkOpening day.
The son of Oxbow , Hot Rod Charlie was never worse than third on the rope in his first six games of 2021, including a third in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), a brave second half in Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1), and won the Pennsylvania Derby (G1). He was also the first to cross the wire in TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) but was disqualified and placed seventh for interference.
Breeders’ Cup Classic is Hot Rod Charlie’s first time facing older horses. After being smashed through the starting gate by others, he settled in midfield and moved into second with a quarter mile to run and into the stretch after the eventual winner. Knicks Go . He was then overtaken to finish fourth after runner-up Medina Spirit and show who completes Necessary quality .
“He ran a fearless race. I’m so proud of ‘Charlie’,” O’Neill said after the Classic match.
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Hot Rod Charlie is owned by Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing and Bill Strauss. He will miss Sunday 4 with Flavien Prat, his regular pilot since the Kentucky Derby.
The 1/16-mile San Antonio could be used to prepare for an overseas trip to Meydan Racecourse, where Hot Rod Charlie can race at the Dubai World Cup on March 26 sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1).
The pony was one of 11 entries by O’Neill on the first day of winter/spring meet at Santa Anita.
The trainer said, “If it’s not a personal high, it has to be right there,” said the trainer, “The condition book has a lot of races that are suitable for our horses. They are running. Good coaching so we’ll see how it goes.”
The only targets of the seven San Antonio horses to start winning were Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman’s Azul Coast , trained by Bob Baffert. 4 year old kid Super savings colt rallied to win the Native Diver Staking (G3) award on November 20 at Del Mar more than half the length Kiss Today Goodbye (2020 San Antonio winner) and stable friend Eight Rings . Juan Hernandez picks up a mount from Prat on the Azul Coast, who will break through from beyond column 7.
Native Diver’s result is the best ending to Kiss Today Goodbye (Prince Cairo ), coached by Eric Kruljac for John Sondereker, since a 15-1 defeat in San Antonio a year ago.
Coolmore Stud, Golconda Stable, Madaket Stables, SF Racing and Starlight Racing’s Eight Rings will be flashed for San Antonio after a third in Native Diver. Now a 4-year-old, the last Empire Maker colt stake winner was the 2019 American Pharoah Staking (G1) in Santa Anita. Baffert’s intern is one of the two main frontrunners in the lineup, the other being Hot Rod Charlie.
CRK Stable’s Express train will try to add 2nd grade thirds to his sésumè in San Antonio. Back in July, 4 year old kid Union Rags colt won the San Diego Handicap (G2). In his two starts since then, he finished sixth in the August 21 TVG Pacific Classic (G1) and third place in Awesome Again Stakes (G1) October 2. He was scratched at the Longines Breeders tournament. ‘Cup Classic due to a leg injury.
Also entered is the 2020 Native Diver winner Additional hope and O’Neill trained Go on , his equity contributor debuts.
Item: San Antonio S. (G2)
Santa Anita . Park, Sunday, December 26, 2021, Race 6
- Level II
- 1 1/16m
- Dust
- 200,000 dollars
- 3 years or more
- 1:30pm (local)
