Hot Rod Charlie Returns to Keeneland Following Lukas Classic Victory

Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, Strauss Bros Racing and Gainesway Thoroughbreds’ Hot Rod Charlie returned to Keeneland Saturday night following his head victory over Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve winner Rich Strike in the Lukas Classic (G2) at Churchill Downs.

“He looks phenomenal this morning,” trainer Doug O’Neill said via text before returning to his Southern California base.

Hot Rod Charlie, who finished second as a 94-1 shot in the 2020 TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance here in his lone Keeneland start, is being pointed to the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), a race in which he finished fourth last year.

RED-TR Racing’s Rich Strike was scheduled to return to trainer Eric Reed’s Mercury Equine Center in Lexington today. Rich Strike ran third in an allowance optional claiming race going a mile here last fall and worked once here this spring prior to his Kentucky Derby victory.