Hot Rod Charlie picks up Prat for Kentucky Derby

Hot Rod Charlie, the Louisiana Derby winner, will have Flavien Prat aboard in the Kentucky Derby on May 1, trainer Doug O’Neill said Monday.

Prat was aboard Hot Rod Charlie for a five-furlong work at Santa Anita on Saturday, accomplished in 1:01.20 for five furlongs.

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Hot Rod Charlie was ridden in the Louisiana Derby by Joel Rosario, who was aboard Concert Tour for a third-place finish in the Arkansas Derby on Saturday.

On Monday, O’Neill said: “Both Joel and Flavien are world-class jocks. Flavien was able to commit to Charlie. We’re excited moving forward.”

Hot Rod Charlie, runner-up in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, has made two starts this year. He was a close third in the Robert Lewis at Santa Anita on Jan. 30 prior to the Louisiana Derby, which was run six weeks out from the Kentucky Derby.

O’Neill is a two-time winner of the Derby, with I’ll Have Another and Nyquist. Prat won the Derby via disqualification two years ago on Country House.