Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby, 1 3/16 miles, Fair Grounds, March 20, 2021 (100 Derby qualifying points for first, 40 for second, 20 for third, 10 for fourth) Winner: Hot Rod Charlie, by Oxbow Trainer: Leandro Mora/Doug O’Neill Jockey: Joel Rosario Owner: Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing LLC, and Bill Strauss Beyer Speed Figure: 99 The final round of Derby preps worth 170 points overall, including 100 to the winner, commenced with a terrific effort from HOT ROD CHARLIE, who got a career-best Beyer, topping the 94 he earned when second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (https://www.drf.com/news/road-2021-kentucky-derby-breeders-cup-juvenile-analysis), further indicating he’s continuing to progress from 2 to 3. He was a decent third in the Robert Lewis (https://www.drf.com/news/road-2021-kentucky-derby-robert-lewis-stakes-analysis), a race that was fast early and slow late, but coming out of that race his works at Santa Anita were noticeable in their improvement, and all the signs he was giving off were confirmed in this race. He was ridden confidently by Rosario, who put him on the lead, and he handled the distance, which is just 110 yards short of what will be required on May 1. He will not race again before then. Owing to a medication violation that caused O’Neill to be sidelined when entries for this race were taken, Hot Rod Charlie ran this race in the name of Mora, O’Neill’s long-time top assistant. O’Neill will be going for his third Derby victory, following I’ll Have Another in 2012 and Nyquist in 2016, and Mora has been an integral part of those wins, too. Going back to his days with the late Brian Mayberry, Mora long has been considered one of the best assistants in the game. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2021: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more In this race, Hot Rod Charlie bumped with PROXY leaving the gate, but overcame that to make the front coming under the wire the first time while heading to the rail. He led narrowly from MIDNIGHT BOURBON around the first turn and into the backstretch, had Midnight Bourbon get on near-even terms with him while going around the far turn, turned that rival aside inside the furlong grounds and steadily drew away. He’s got enough contending speed to put himself in good position early, which should be a help in a big field on Derby Day, and he can gallop along at a steady clip throughout. He looks like he needs strong handling, and certainly got that from Rosario. Midnight Bourbon, who finished second, went into the first turn alongside Hot Rod Charlie, and remained in that stalking position all the way to the far turn, at which point he moved to get on near-even terms with Hot Rod Charlie. He actually appeared to be going the better of the two a quarter-mile from home, but he couldn’t get past Hot Rod Charlie in upper stretch and lost ground in the final furlong. He’s turned in a series of solid efforts this spring, as this followed a win in the Lecomte (https://www.drf.com/news/road-2021-kentucky-derby-lecomte-stakes-analysis) and third in the Risen Star (https://www.drf.com/news/road-2021-kentucky-derby-risen-star-stakes-analysis). His sire, Tiznow, was a late-developing 3-year-old, so there’s every reason to believe he will continue to progress. O BESOS, who was third, was taken in hand early and trailed around the first turn while two to three paths wide. He was guided to the rail while heading down the backstretch, saved ground around the far turn, only had to come around the tiring RIGHTANDJUST at midstretch, and continued to make steady progress to just miss getting up for second. He continued to gallop out well. This was a much-improved effort from his Risen Star. He had a sweet trip, but he’s definitely on the improve. Proxy, who was fourth, was bumped by Hot Rod Charlie from his outside and RUN CLASSIC from his inside leaving the gate, then went around the first turn in the two path, just behind the leaders while between Rightandjust and MANDALOUN. He lost ground and position heading down the backstretch when unable to keep up, was three and then four paths wide on the far turn, but just seemed to go through the motions despite persistent urging from John Velazquez. He added blinkers for this race, but still ran one-paced. Yet despite never really looking interested, he still wasn’t really beaten all that badly, and his previous efforts in the Lecomte and Risen Star were solid. He might not be as far away as this race will make him appear on paper. STARRININMYDREAMS, who was fifth, was beaten to a spot by Rightandjust in the opening sixteenth and got shuffled back to seventh heading into the first turn. He saved ground around the first turn, moved a bit closer heading down the backside, was sent along with urgency while just inside Proxy on the far turn, raced on his wrong lead in upper stretch while being angled to the middle of the track, but never made any impact. Mandaloun, who was sixth, eased back between Hot Rod Charlie and Midnight Bourbon in the opening furlong and then ranged up outside those two around the first turn while fairly keen at that point. He sat perched outside those two leaders in what looked like an ideal stalking spot down the backstretch and into the far turn, but came under an aggressive ride before the quarter pole while unable to get to the leaders, then steadily faded in an extremely disappointing effort. Rightandjust, who was seventh, was hustled away from the gate to get over to the rail, but then conceded the lead to Hot Rod Charlie heading into the first turn and followed Hot Rod Charlie around the first turn while saving ground inside Proxy. He saved every inch of ground while following Hot Rod Charlie around the far turn, but was under heavy pressure in upper stretch and retreated. His best races have been when he makes the lead against softer company. Run Classic, who finished last of eight, bumped with Proxy leaving the gate, then went around the first turn racing in the clear, in sixth place, about two paths wide. He was taken to the middle of the track down the backstretch, but was being outrun by his rivals with three furlongs remaining and then stopped badly. This was only his third start, and it was too big a hill to climb.