Patrick O’Neill, nephew to two-time Kentucky Derby-winning coach Doug O’Neill and bloodstock agent Dennis O’Neill, had a unique curiosity from most school children when he was an undergraduate pupil and a member of Brown College’s soccer crew. He insisted on including TVG to the fraternity home’s cable tv bundle; he was the one who watched horse racing at each alternative, together with in school, and in movie research previous to apply.
O’Neill’s infectious enthusiasm in regards to the sport and “household enterprise” finally resulted in an curiosity being taken by his shut associates who graduated with him in 2015. With their skilled careers underway, they have been in search of an exercise that might hold them related and add to the nice occasions they’d already loved collectively.
O’Neill, now vice chairman for gross sales and strategic partnerships at Founder Sport Group in San Diego, joined former Brown teammates Eric Armagost, Dan Giovacchini, Reiley Higgins, and Alex Quoyeser in forming Boat Racing, LLC. The partnership is known as for a beer-chugging sport they performed as Theta Delta Chi fraternity brothers.
Boat Racing took a minor however nonetheless important monetary stake in Hot Rod Charlie, the third horse they ever owned, becoming a member of Roadrunner Racing (Greg Helm) and Bill Strauss. Sizzling Rod Charlie gained the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby and cemented his standing as one of many nation’s high 3-year-olds with a third-place end within the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and a strong second after he laid down torrid fractions within the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRABets. He later crossed the end line first within the TVG.com Haskell Stakes, however was subsequently disqualified and positioned final for a site visitors incident in mid-stretch, after which subsequently gained the Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing.
O’Neill has written a daily diary with Tom Pedulla for America’s Finest Racing since Sizzling Rod Charlie burst onto the scene by operating second within the $2 million TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at 94-1. Right here is their installment forward of the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday at Del Mar.
After I assume again to the final Breeders’ Cup and every part that has occurred since then, what an incredible, inconceivable trip it has been with Charlie.
After we arrived at Keeneland final 12 months for the Juvenile, as a lot as we needed to consider in our boy, it was arduous to think about, frankly, even being within the cash in that race. He had simply damaged his maiden on his fourth attempt. He was going in opposition to a subject loaded with rather more completed opponents – high Kentucky Derby hopefuls with significantly better pedigrees that had not solely been uncovered to graded stakes competitors however had gained. We knew it was deep waters, however we reasoned that if he may run within the high 5, we may break even, and we’d be capable of create a reminiscence that every of us would always remember – the first purpose we began Boat Racing, LLC.
Charlie, after all, far exceeded our hopes. He missed by three-quarters of a size to Essential Quality within the Juvenile, however everybody knew we would want to see extra to make certain our horse was greater than a one-race surprise. After a layoff, he backed up the Juvenile with a strong third within the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on the finish of January. Our camp felt that was a sneaky good efficiency – first begin after a 90-day layoff, going a mile and a sixteenth with two nice horses inside and out of doors of him, and by no means giving up your complete approach down the lane regardless of an especially deep, tiring monitor.
We have been happy with him, however knew he would want to take a step ahead to have any probability to get within the gates in Churchill Downs on the primary Saturday in Could. Pondering again presently, I chuckle how we might proceed to catch ourselves that we have been nuts to ever assume and even be speaking about doubtlessly operating within the Kentucky Derby, constantly mentioning that “It could’t occur to folks like us.”
After an excellent huddle amongst Roadrunner Racing, Invoice, and Staff O’Neill, we felt the Louisiana Derby hit all of the bins for taking a shot to get into the Derby, and Charlie put all of it along with a front-running victory – punching our ticket to historic Churchill Downs. Though it was surreal and a pinch-me second that we have been heading to the Kentucky Derby, we knew deep down that Charlie had a respectable probability. We knew he was coaching extremely, but additionally we knew he would relish the added distance.
He did, as soon as once more, run his eyeballs out and gave us – and our 160-people-strong contingent – a thrill on the far flip that I’ll always remember till the day I’m now not on this planet. Every one of many Boat Racing guys chortle that we absolutely plan to be these previous grandpas that inform the identical story time and again to our grandchildren in 50 years. This will probably be that story.
Charlie then saved the prepare going by popping out of the Kentucky Derby higher than you can have ever thought, which is why we opted on the final minute to run within the well-known Belmont Stakes in Elmont, N.Y. Charlie confirmed super coronary heart to be second to Important High quality, a real champion, and it was nice to lastly see him get extra admiration for the torrid fractions he threw down, whereas persevering with to battle on each step of the way in which.
Most individuals view the Haskell as most likely our lowest low. We clipped heels with Midnight Bourbon and, as a substitute of attaining our first Grade 1 victory, we have been disqualified and positioned final. Humorous sufficient, not one of the Charlie crew ever felt within the dumps about that have. Having an excellent crew amongst us all with an aligned perspective – love this wonderful sport, blessed to have Charlie, and win-or-lose we’re going to have enjoyable – made it extraordinarily straightforward. Actually, we merely felt unhealthy for Charlie, as a result of he had run a successful race and deserved to be a Grade 1 winner mentioned among the many better of the category. That’s the reason we felt extra relieved after Charlie’s spectacular win within the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby, which takes us to the place we at the moment are.
We may by no means have imagined a 12 months in the past that we might be considered as one of many high contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Basic, however right here we’re. I’ve been on this sport for the reason that time I keep in mind opening my eyes and I definitely didn’t assume that my household would ever be part of a Kentucky Derby win (e.g. Doug and Dennis gained the Kentucky Derby with Reddam Racing in 2012 with I’ll Have One other and in 2016 with Nyquist), however I most definitely didn’t ever assume I’d help my uncles on this unbelievable “household enterprise” with a horse within the pinnacle race for all Thoroughbreds.
As all the time, when you may have a horse like Charlie, you might be all the time optimistic, particularly since he gained’t should ship throughout the nation to run for the primary time since January. Staff O’Neill has completed every part attainable to have him prepared for his greatest second. Phrases can not describe how indebted we’re to my uncle Doug because the coach, assistant coach Leandro Mora, train rider Johnny Garcia, groom Eddie Barron, and uncle Dennis who masterfully picked him out at public sale as a yearling. They’ve all completed an unbelievable job in getting Charlie to proceed to meet his potential.
Staff O’Neill is matched solely by the standard of the companions we’ve. Roadrunner Racing and their managing accomplice, Greg Helm, and Invoice Strauss, who’ve each been nice mentors to us, in addition to a blast to be round. They’re all class and it has been nice to comply with their lead. They even matched our ideas to donate one-sixth of all Charlie earnings to charity, which, on the finish of the day, is actually all that issues. Everyone knows that we’re extraordinarily blessed to have had this expertise and all agreed that it can be crucial we discover a approach to do one thing that’s extra necessary and past ourselves.
I watched Charlie’s final work for the Basic, when he went seven furlongs in 1:26.80 final Saturday at Del Mar with Flavien Prat, his world-class jockey, aboard. I couldn’t consider a extra excellent work. Charlie is as match and prepared as he’ll ever be. As Prat and our whole crew stated when he hopped off, we may have no excuses.
I consider the end result will rely largely on how the race unfolds, as there are such a lot of world-class horses. Knicks Go, Medina Spirit and Art Collector are all fast, whereas Important High quality has an incredible stride over a route of floor. We’re lucky that one among Charlie’s abilities is his versatility. He can both be on the lead or sit off the tempo. I may see him on the flank of Knicks Go if we catch a flyer out of the gate or sitting 5 lengths again within the backyard spot in the event that they determine to go fast early.
When you may have Flavien as your jockey, you merely belief in his instincts and wonderful abilities that we are going to get journey no matter what the opposite horses determine to do. Who is aware of? It would once more come down as to whether we will maintain off Important High quality, simply because it did a 12 months in the past on the Breeders Cup at Keeneland. Speak about full circle. Speak about a movie-like ending to this 12 months.
After these extraordinary final 12 months, Charlie has taught us that we’re not silly to consider within the not possible. However whether or not the not possible occurs or not, we’ve recollections of this previous 12 months to speak about as grandpas for the remainder of our lives. Thanks, Sizzling Rod Charlie!
