Hot Rod Charlie has Triple Crown glory in the bloodline, having been sired by Preakness Stakes winner Oxbow, so it came as no surprise when the colt finished third in the Kentucky Derby.
Hot Rod Charlie is a three-year-old colt trained by Doug O'Neill. The runner finished third in the Kentucky Derby, behind winner Medina Spirit and Mandaloun, picking up $300,000 in the process.
Considered one of the favourites for the Kentucky Derby with a price of 6/1 at the gate, Hot Rod Charlie struggled to break into the top two, but successfully held off the challenge of favourite Essential Quality.
2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby
Hot Rod Charlie improves from debut
The talented team behind Hot Rod Charlie
Hot Rod Charlie's pedigree
Hot Rod Charlie News
The eight horses who will run in the Belmont Stakes
The field and post positions for Saturday's 153rd running of the $1.5million Belmont Stakes were announced on Tuesday morning, with eight horses entered.
Road to the Kentucky Derby: Looking ahead to the 100-40-20-10 stretch run
There will be three big 100-40-20-10 point races on April 3, the penultimate weekend of the Road to the Kentucky Derby that began back on September 5 with the Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Hot Rod Charlie races to Louisiana Derby win
Hot Rod Charlie overcame 7/5 favourite Mandaloun to claim victory in the opening Kentucky Derby prep race.
Five down, 15 to go - who will qualify for the Kentucky Derby next?
While the field for the Kentucky Derby is far from being set, there are at least five horses with enough qualifying points to gain invitations.