Brad Free: Hot Rod Charlie will be a handful in Dubai World Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. – The cross-country journal filled up this week with notes and opinions from Meydan to Golden Gate Fields to Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita.

Buick on a ‘Hot Rod’

Hot Rod Charlie’s romp in Dubai – he won the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 by more than five lengths last Friday under William Buick – reminded of a similar Dubai runaway by a U.S. horse Buick rode in the same race. Frosted shipped early to Dubai, won the 2016 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 by five lengths, but regressed next out, fifth to California Chrome in the Dubai World Cup. Having said that, the 2022 World Cup on March 26 sure looks like Hot Rod Charlie’s to lose. That is, unless Life Is Good shows up.

Seamless switch

The chalk-friendly El Camino Real Derby on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields will likely be won by Hot Rod Charlie’s trainer Doug O’Neill. Mackinnon, third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf following two listed stakes wins on turf, could be a standout switching to synthetic. El Camino Real Derby favorites are 7 for 13 since the race moved from Bay Meadows in 2009, during which time every winner but Azul Coast in 2020 previously won on turf or synthetic. Favorites won the El Camino Real Derby the past four years, including Rombauer last year. All he did was win the Preakness two starts later.

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Knock better than a push

Great insight by the Daily Racing Form clocking crew of Mike Welsch, Donald Harris, Dave Norton, and Mike Vesce last Saturday in the Gulfstream Clocker Report. They insinuated Giant Game was a stone bet-against in the Grade 3 Holy Bull based on recent works. Commentary for his Jan. 30 work: “not as sharp as earlier in the month.” Jan. 25: “not showing much energy finishing.” Giant Game, third betting choice in the Holy Bull, finished eighth. Turns out, he displaced. Alibi aside, the clocking info was spot-on.

Short price beats long face

I knew it was only a matter of time until my next big score, and I hope this does not seem like excessive bragging, but I nailed the 50-cent pick three on the final three races Sunday at Santa Anita. The monster payoff – $3.95. I probably should have hit the late pick four also, but darn. Missed opportunity. The 50-cent late pick four paid $8.40. On a related note, 12 of the 27 Santa Anita races last week included an odds-on favorite (eight won).

A good foreboding

This date in Santa Anita history: Exactly 10 years ago, Feb. 11, 2012, a second-start maiden 3-year-old crushed a dirt mile by more than nine lengths in a blazing 1:34.45. Bodemeister went on to win the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby and finish second in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness before retiring with a shoulder injury. The maiden win by Bodemeister took place on the second Saturday in February. A similar maiden mile at Santa Anita is on tap this weekend – the second Saturday in February – so stay tuned.

Tabs on Charge It

Over at Gulfstream Park, a well-regarded 3-year-old maiden colt just might emulate Bodemeister in his upcoming second start. Charge It, sired by Tapit and trained by Todd Pletcher, worked super since his runner-up debut and is sitting on a maiden win. Aside from his sire, Charge It has a superior female family. His dam is a sibling to Grade 1 winners Will Take Charge and Take Charge Indy, and Grade 2 winner As Time Goes By. Remember the name – Charge It. Too late for the Kentucky Derby? Not this year.

Ax Man traveling

Arizona is the new home for 7-of-18 stakes winner Ax Man, who earned $365,797 for trainer Bob Baffert and played an important role for Baffert in California. Ax Man was regular workmate for all-stars including graded winners Medina Spirit, Spielberg, Gamine, As Time Goes By, Cezanne, Eight Rings, and Magic On Tap. Ax Man, 7, “has been around a while. He is part of the family,” Baffert said. But the gelding has few California race options, and Baffert did not want to run him for a tag. Dan McFarlane is his new trainer. Owned and bred by Arizonians Hal and Patti Earnhardt, Ax Man runs long on grass Friday in the Turf Paradise Turf Stakes. He is listed at 8-1.

Midcourt headed to Mineshaft

Much of the Santa Anita news is about horses leaving town, and Midcourt will be the latest departure. The 7-year-old gelding, a graded winner who requires Lasix, will target the Grade 3 Mineshaft on Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds. Lasix, a medication that prevents bleeding, is not permissible in California graded races, but Midcourt can receive Lasix at Fair Grounds. Winner of the Grade 2 San Pasqual at Santa Anita in 2020 and Grade 1-placed in three subsequent races, John Shirreffs-trained Midcourt has won six races and $613,105 from 18 starts for owners Lee and Susan Searing, whose Express Train scored an emphatic victory Saturday in the Grade 2 San Pasqual.

Merneith gets Beyer bump

News flash: Merneith is now the second-fastest horse to race this year. The Beyer Speed Figure for her Grade 2 Santa Monica victory on Saturday at Santa Anita was revised six points upward, to 108. That is just two points less than Life Is Good’s figure in the Pegasus. The fig by Merneith is highest by a female sprinter in California since autumn 2012, when Groupie Doll (Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint) and Beholder (juvenile filly allowance) each earned a 108.

Speightster legacies

Call it melancholy if Bowl of Cherries wins the fifth race at Santa Anita on Friday, less than a week after her promising young sire was euthanized. Speightster, whose first crop is only 4 years old, fractured a hind leg Sunday when he kicked a stall wall at the Ontario, Canada, farm where he stood. California runners by Speightster include last-out maiden winners Bowl of Cherries and Rhodium Runner, entered in the fourth race Friday at Golden Gate. The stallion Speightster was young, only 10 years old. It’s a tough game, on the track and sometimes, unfortunately, on the farm

‘Smuggler’s’ blues

Among the benefits of DRF Formulator are video replays, and a prime example is in the third race Friday at Santa Anita. A replay review of the last start by Smuggler’s Run (SA, Jan. 30, race 9) is recommended. To call it a tough trip would be an understatement.

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