Why Preakness winner dropped Rombauer mount for Belmont

Perhaps it will not matter at all. Perhaps it will make a world of difference.

Flavien Prat’s decision to leave commanding Preakness winner Rombauer to ride third-place Kentucky Derby finisher Hot Rod Charlie in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes is unusual, to say the least.

How did it happen?

According to Brad Pegram, Prat’s agent, it was all a matter of timing.

“We committed after the Derby to the Belmont with Hot Rod Charlie, and then a few days later, the opportunity came up to ride Rombauer in the Preakness and he won,” Pegram said. “But we had already made a commitment to the Belmont with Hot Rod Charlie.”

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When Michael McCarthy, Rombauer’s trainer, was asked during a national conference call whether he was disappointed about losing Prat, he responded: “I’m not sure if ‘disappointed’ is the right word. I found out soon after the Preakness that Flavien’s agent had given a call to the connections of Hot Rod Charlie the Monday before the Preakness and they sort of mentioned that they would see how things panned out in the ensuing days. Then I read in the Daily Racing Form that Hot Rod Charlie was definitely being ridden by Flavien Prat.”

Rombauer, under a patient, well-timed ride by Prat, produced an authoritative 3 1/2-length score in the Preakness. McCarthy assured that his 3-year-old would remain in good hands by assigning the mount to two-time Belmont winner John Velazquez.

“It would have been nice to get Flavien back in the saddle. Obviously, there is a wonderful chemistry between horse and rider,” McCarthy said. “But I’m over the moon to have John Velazquez.”

Velazquez, seemingly riding better than ever at 49, crossed the finish line first with Malathaat in the Kentucky Oaks and with controversial Medina Spirit in the Derby. In 2007, he was aboard Rags to Riches when she emerged as the first filly to win the Belmont since 1905. He tacked on another score in the hard-to-navigate 1 1/2-mile Belmont with Union Rags in 2012. He ranks as the all-time earnings leader with more than $437 million.

“He’s riding very well. Belmont is his home track for umpteen years,” McCarthy noted. “It’s not often you win a classic and need to find a jockey afterward. But I am happy with where we’re at. I hope everybody else is happy with their decisions.”

Doug O’Neill, who trains Hot Rod Charlie and often refers to him as “Chuck,” is hoping Prat can be a difference maker.

“I think it’s a huge bonus. I thought he rode and Chuck ran a great race in the Derby to be a real close third,” O’Neill said. “He’s breezed him easily half a dozen times, if not more, so they really get along great.

“Nothing is better than having a strong horse and rider connection going into big races, and I feel we’ve got that going into the Belmont.”

Prat has hardly been a constant aboard Hot Rod Charlie, who has responded well to several riders. Tyler Gaffalione guided him to a surprising second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile despite odds of 94-1. Joel Rosario got the nod when the Oxbow colt opened this season with a third-place finish in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita and with a front-running victory in the 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby (G2).

Hot Rod Charlie has shown himself to be handy no matter who is in the irons. But O’Neill welcomes the chance to retain Prat in a sport in which jockeys typically come and go based on their latest results.

“They were strong in their word. A lot of respect to Flavien’s agent for sticking to that,” O’Neill said. “After the Preakness, when the horse ran so big, it would be tempting to consider making a switch, but he never wavered. Hopefully, that is his confidence in the colt and how well he knows the colt. It’s definitely a vote of confidence.”

O’Neill hopes that vote of confidence tells the tale. Because of the race’s extraordinary distance at massive Belmont Park, heady in-race decisions and versatile mounts are of paramount importance.

“Having the continuity of Flavien Prat riding him back is huge,” O’Neill said. “If we got an easy lead, it would be a beautiful thing. He has shown in the past he can lead all the way or come from off the pace, so I think (there are) good options.”