Kentucky Derby: Hot Rod Charlie works with Prat aboard

ARCADIA, Calif. – Hot Rod Charlie, the Louisiana Derby winner, worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 on Saturday morning at Santa Anita as he moves on toward the Kentucky Derby on May 1, but it was the person on his back, as much as the quality of the work, that was noteworthy.

Flavien Prat was up for trainer Doug O’Neill, who said Prat would have the mount pending the decision of the colt’s regular rider, Joel Rosario.

Rosario is also the regular rider of Concert Tour, who was set for his final Derby prep later Saturday in the Arkansas Derby for trainer Bob Baffert.

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“He’s the backup if Rosario picks Concert Tour,” O’Neill said. “We should know when they hit the wire today.”

O’Neill said he was inclined to press for a quick decision from Rosario and his agent, Ron Anderson.

“We don’t want to hold Flavien up,” O’Neill said. “We owe it to him.”

Concert Tour will be heavily favored in the Arkansas Derby, and an impressive victory there would send him to Churchill Downs as one of the top two choices, if not the favorite, for the Derby. But Hot Rod Charlie is certainly among the leading contenders, too.

On Saturday, Hot Rod Charlie easily disposed of his workmate coming through the lane and was going well within himself passing the wire.

“Absolutely cruising,” O’Neill remarked.

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.