Express Train upsets Hot Rod Charlie to win San Antonio

Arcadia, Calif.

Opening day of the Santa Anita winter-spring meet Sunday greeted fans with a thrilling edition of the Grade 2, $200,000 San Antonio Stakes as Express Train, provided a Hall of Fame ride by Victor Espinoza, edged odds-on favorite Hot Rod Charlie for his third graded-stakes win of 2021.

Express Train and Espinoza, dispatched as the 7-1 third choice in the wagering, did not have the cleanest of trips Sunday. Express Train was crowded shortly after leaving the gate and found himself with just two horses beat after an opening half mile in 47.37 seconds completed by second choice Eight Rings (6-1). On the second turn, with Hot Rod Charlie engaging Eight Rings on the front end, Express Train was angled out for racing room and took aim at the leaders.

"I got out just in time," said Espinoza, who was riding Express Train for the first time.

With Hot Rod Charlie moving past Eight Rings for the lead inside the eighth pole, it looked like the popular son of Oxbow was poised for a third graded-stakes win of his own. But rolling on the outside came Express Train, who nailed Hot Rod Charlie on the wire to win by a nose for trainer John Shirreffs.

"I was able to follow and move with Hot Rod Charlie," Espinoza explained of his trip. "This horse is not quick on the turn, so I had to start pedaling on him. Turning for home, when he switched leads, he really accelerated and I got him on the wire. That was my only shot...and today it worked out."

Express Train, who retuned $16.40, completed 1 1/16-miles on a fast track in 1:44.82. Following Hot Rod Charlie by a half length was a game Eight Rings followed by Go On (60-1), the longest shot on the board.

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It was a tough-luck finish to a standout 2021 for Hot Rod Charlie, who ends the campaign with a record of 8 2-2-2 and more than $2.1 million in earnings. He and Flavien Prat had a good outside stalking trip, but on the second turn Prat had to start riding Hot Rod Charlie to get him to the front and they were ultimately unable to hold off the winner.

"Disappointed," Hot Rod Charlie's trainer Doug O'Neill said. "I'm proud of him, he just got outbobbed."

Added Prat: "The whole race I had to keep him in the race. He wasn't traveling super. He made a good move around the quarter pole, but then I just couldn't get there."

Owned by Lee and Susan Searing's C R K Stable, Express Train had to be scratched from the Breeders' Cup Classic the week of the race when he suffered a minor injury during paddock schooling. Prior to that, the son of Union Rags was third in the Awesome Again (G1), sixth in the Pacific Classic (G1), and he won the San Diego Handicap (G2).

Express Train's other graded stakes win this year came in the San Pasqual (G2) back in January. Shirreffs praised Espinoza's ride for the victory.

"Never give up on Victor," Shirreffs said, adding a date in the $650,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) on March 25 would be next for Express Train.

In this year's Big 'Cap, Express Train finished second by a half length to Idol, who was also scratched from this year's Breeders' Cup Classic.