School is out for Hot Rod Charlie
On Friday morning, Bill Strauss stood in the back of the Horsemen’s Lounge at Parx Racing and hung on every word spoken by trainers assembled for a press conference previewing Saturday’s blockbuster 13-race card, highlighted by the Cotillion and Pennsylvania Derby, the featured $1 million, Grade I races.
In particular, Strauss made sure to soak in every syllable that came out of trainer Doug O’Neill’s mouth. Strauss is part of the ownership group of Hot Rod Charlie, the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the Pennsylvania Derby. He and several of his partners have been trackside all week watching Charlie go through his paces.
And, of course, Strauss, originally from Wayne, New Jersey – about 90 miles from Parx – can’t wait until Saturday.
“Look, Charlie has been a God-send for us,” Strauss, who now lives in Del Mar, Calif., said. “He is just a great horse. He throws it down every race. Just like every race we go into, we are confident he is going to run his race. Hopefully, the racing gods will smile on us tomorrow and we will cross the finish line first.”
Strauss owns Hot Rod Charlie along with Road Runner Racing, Boat Racing and Spendthrift Farm. Many of the partners are in town, but the fun-loving Boat Racing group, headed by O’Neill’s nephew, Patrick, are not.
The pals and former college football teammates at Brown, are in Cleveland for a wedding. Post time for the wedding, Doug O’Neill said, is 5 p.m., 40 minutes before post time of the Pennsylvania Derby.
Strauss said he has owned horses for 15 years. He was part of the ownership group of Mizdirection, who won the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in 2012 and the Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2013. But he has a certain affinity for Hot Rod Charlie.
“On pure, raw talent, I think Charlie is the best horse I have had,” Strauss said. “And I think he is going to prove it. Excited? I have to be excited. It’s a million-dollar, Grade I race and we are at a place with a great atmosphere. Grade I, million-dollar races don’t come along every day. To have the favorite going into it. It doesn’t get any better than this.”
School is out for Hot Rod Charlie
BENSALEM, Pa. – One thing Hot Rod Charlie hasn’t done this week during his time in Pennsylvania is go to school.
The 8-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s Pennsylvania Derby has not visited the Parx paddock to school before the race. Other horses that have shipped in for the big day of racing have been taken over to acclimate to the new surroundings.
Trainer Doug O’Neill doesn’t do it.
“I’m weird that way,” O’Neill said. “You are teasing them when you take them to the paddock and don’t run them. We just don’t school too many horses. When he goes to the paddock, it will be game time.”
Hot Rod Charlie has been in town since last Saturday. He was the first Derby runner to arrive other than I Am Redeemed, who is based at Parx.
“That has been our thing,” O’Neill said. “I want him to get used to the surface. The track here is very safe but can be demanding at times. We wanted Charlie to get used to the footing and, win, lose or dead heat, I’m glad we did.”
Hot Rod Charlie walked on Sunday and has been to the track for gallops every day since.
“We’re ready to go,” O’Neill said.
Parx Press Office
Photo: Trainer Doug O’Neill (3rd L) poses with the Owners of Hot Rod Charlie outside the barn at Parx Racing in Bensalem, PA on Friday morning September 24, 2021. Hot Rod Charlie is the morning line favorite for tomorrow’s (9/25) $1,000,000 Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing. Photo By Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
