Hot Rod Charlie targets Haskell Stakes after bullet work

Trainer Doug O'Neill has his sights set on the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes for Hot Rod Charlie after the Belmont Stakes runner-up worked six furlongs in a sharp 1:11.6 at Santa Anita Park on Friday. 

"We're leaning that way for sure," O'Neill told Horse Racing Nation. "As long as he looks good after this, he'll have another breeze and if all goes well, that's the plan."

The 1 1/8-miles Haskell is set for July 17 at Monmouth Park. 

Hot Rod Charlie breezed immediately after the renovation break. With jockey Flavien Prat in the irons – and without blinkers – Hot Rod Charlie broke off in company at the five-eighths pole, surged past his workmate in the stretch and continued on strongly past the wire to earn the bullet work for the distance. 

"He took some dirt, came through on the inside, took the kickback and finished up great," O'Neill said. "And as fast as that sounds, he did it as easy as a horse could do it."

O'Neill added Hot Rod Charlie would also be without blinkers in the Haskell. As for the riding-crop rule in New Jersey, which restrict its use other than for matters of safety, O'Neill said it was not an issue. 

"We hate worrying about things we can't do anything about. Really, it's not a concern at this point," O'Neill said. 

After finishing second at 94-1 in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Hot Rod Charlie finished a close-up third to Medina Spirit in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) to kick off his sophomore campaign. The Oxbow colt would go on to win the Louisiana Derby (G2) before finishing third in the Kentucky Derby and second in the Belmont Stakes to Essential Quality. 

Hot Rod Charlie sports a record of 9: 2-2-3 with earnings of $1,585,700 for owners Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing and William Strauss. He was a $110,000 auction purchase as a yearling.