Doug O’Neill-trained three-year-old, Hot Rod Charlie looked impressive over the weekend when he won the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby, the first of the final round of Derby preps worth 100 points to the winner.
The win came a week after jockey Joel Rosario led fellow California bred colt, Concert Tour, to a win at the Rebel Stakes. Can the wins continue? Experts believe so. You may view updated odds below.
Both HRC and Concert Tour were highly ranked Derby contenders. This before Saturday, but their standing improved dramatically after Bob Baffert announced that Derby favorite Life is Good will miss the Triple Crown after suffering an injury over the weekend.
Hot Rod Charlie needed four starts as a two-year-old before earning his maiden diploma. He nearly shocked the world at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, finishing second at 94-1 to champion colt Essential Quality. In his next start, he closed for third in the Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 30.
Hot Rod Charlie Kentucky Derby Odds
In his recent works, HRC trained like a superstar. Blowing away workmates and galloping out with enthusiasm, indicating that much as he progressed at 2, he was giving all the indications he would move forward similarly at 3. It looked like he was sitting on a top effort, and thus was bet down to 5-2, second choice to the 6-5 favorite Mandaloun, who had won the local prep, the Risen Star.
After the race, Hot Rod Charlie’s owner Bill Strauss said the horse will train straight through to the Kentucky Derby. Looking to bet on HRC?
“We’re going to Kentucky,” a jubilant Bill Strauss, one of the co-owners of HRC, said to TVG’s Scott Hazelton in the winner’s circle. “This is what you get in the game for.”
Strauss owns HRC. This, along with Roadrunner Racing and Boat Racing. The latter a group of friends for whom HRC is their first horse. Hot Rod Charlie was purchased as a yearling for $110,000. He earned $610,000 Saturday and now has career earnings of more than $1 million.