Kentucky Derby: Hot Rod Charlie works six furlongs at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. - Top California jockey Flavien Prat has ridden Hot Rod Charlie once, finishing fifth as the 2-1 favorite in a maiden race on turf at Del Mar last September.

A lot has changed since then for Hot Rod Charlie.

This month, Prat has been reacquainted with Hot Rod Charlie in workouts, just in time to renew the partnership in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1.

On Saturday at Santa Anita, Prat was aboard Hot Rod Charlie for a six-furlong workout in 1:13.60 less than an hour before post time.

Trained by Doug O’Neill, Hot Rod Charlie worked in company with stablemate Chasing Fame, who led by two lengths when the exercise began. Hot Rod Charlie ran outside of Chasing Fame on the turn and moved to the front about a furlong before the finish. Chasing Fame, the winner of a $50,000 claimer for maidens on March 13, finished his five-furlong workout in 1:01.60.

Hot Rod Charlie continued a furlong past the finish line and was given an official time for six furlongs. Hot Rod Charlie went the first five furlongs in 1:00.90.

“He had good energy,” Prat said. “He went by the company very easily. It was a good five-eighths and a good gallop out.”

Prat, who won the 2019 Kentucky Derby when Country House was promoted to first following the disqualification of Maximum Security, worked Hot Rod Charlie earlier in April.

Hot Rod Charlie won the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds on March 20 in his final start before the Kentucky Derby. Joel Rosario was aboard for that race, and for a third in the colt’s 2021 debut in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 30.

Last November, Hot Rod Charlie was second at 94-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland, finishing three-quarters of a length behind top Kentucky Derby contender Essential Quality. Tyler Gaffalione rode Hot Rod Charlie in the BC Juvenile.

Purchased for $110,000 as a yearling, Hot Rod Charlie races for Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, and William Strauss.

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Hot Rod Charlie disputed the early pace in the Louisiana Derby before taking the lead, but has raced well as a stalker in the past. Prat said the colt’s patience could be a major asset in a crowded Kentucky Derby field.

“I think a huge advantage is he has a really good mind and he seems really push-button,” Prat said. “The draw will mean a lot and it always does.

“We’re not the favorite and we have a good horse. There is no pressure on us.”