Hot Rod Charlie, Spielberg work half-mile in stakes prep

ARCADIA, Calif. - Hot Rod Charlie, second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in his last start, and Spielberg, who won the Los Alamitos Futurity last month, both worked a half-mile Saturday morning at Santa Anita in preparation for stakes later this meet, perhaps even against one another in the Robert Lewis Stakes later this month.

Both colts were timed in 48 seconds flat.

Hot Rod Charlie, trained by Doug O'Neill, lost the Juvenile to likely champion Essential Quality by three-quarters of a length as a 94-1 shot. Saturday's work was his second since a brief freshening following the Breeders' Cup.

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Spielberg's work was his first since winning the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity two weeks ago. He is trained by Bob Baffert.

Both are potential candidates for the Grade 3, $100,000 Robert Lewis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 30. The Lewis follows by four weeks the Grade 3, $100,000 Sham, which was to be run later Saturday at Santa Anita.