Prat works Flightline, Hot Rod Charlie

ARCADIA, Calif. – Slightly more than 12 hours after he left Belmont Park late Sunday afternoon, jockey Flavien Prat was aboard the undefeated 4-year-old Flightline for an important workout at Santa Anita early Monday.

Flightline, unraced since an easy win in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds in preparation for the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park on June 11.

Monday’s workout was the second time this month that Prat has been aboard Flightline, having worked the colt on May 16. Prat flew from New York to California on Sunday to exercise Flightline and a few other stakes horses, and to ride in the three Grade 1 stakes on the card.

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Prat on Monday also worked Hot Rod Charlie, who was second in the Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on March 26.

Juan Leyva, a former jockey who is assistant to trainer John Sadler, typically works Flightline. Prat said on Monday that he has noticed a more patient running style from Flightline, who has won three races by a combined 37 1/2 lengths.

Flightline has led throughout two of the wins, and stalked the pace for a quarter-mile in an allowance race at six furlongs at Del Mar last September, drawing off to win by 12 3/4 lengths.

“I think John and Juan Leyva have done a great job,” Prat said. “He’s settled down and is more manageable, just the right thing.”

The $1 million Met Mile will be Flightline’s longest race.

Hot Rod Charlie has won 4 of 15 starts and earned $5,121,200. In the Dubai World Cup at 1 1/4 miles, Hot Rod Charlie finished second by 1 3/4 lengths to Country Grammer. Hot Rod Charlie always raced near the front in the Dubai world Cup.

On Monday, Hot Rod Charlie worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 in company with a stablemate.

Trainer Doug O’Neill said the Grade 2 Stephen Foster Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Churchill Downs on July 2 is a “tentative” goal for Hot Rod Charlie.

“He’ll be ready by then,” Prat said. “He’s always consistent in his workouts.”