The June 11 victory by Flightline in the Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) displayed the sizzle in the older dirt male ranks.
A week later, the $150,000 Salvator Mile Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park June 18 will serve as a reminder of the depth and talent in the division.
The grade 1-winning, $5.1 million earner Hot Rod Charlie will make his first start since finishing second overseas in the Dubai World Cup Presented by Emirates Airline (G1) when he heads a field of seven older runners in the one-mile test at the Jersey Shore.
"We intentionally gave him time off after Dubai and he's come back really strong and we have the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) circled as our ultimate goal. Saturday is the first step toward getting there," trainer Doug O'Neill said.
Owned by Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, and William Strauss, the 4-year-old son of Oxbow has been a gem of consistency in a wide array of the sport's premier races since his juvenile campaign. Winner of the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) last year, his list of runner-up finishes includes the 2021 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) through the disqualification of Medina Spirit, the 2021 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), and the 2020 TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1).
Last time out in the $12 million Dubai World Cup, he finished 1 3/4 lengths behind fellow American Country Grammer , and though he's been inactive since that March 26 race, he is still fifth in the current National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top 10 poll.
While a trip to the Middle East has been draining on some horses in the past, O'Neill has seen no signs of fatigue in the colt's recent training.
"The way they have the yard set up there in Dubai it's like a working vacation for a lot of the horses. It's so pristine and spacious. They let down well while they are there and as long as they come back injury free they look great and are fresh mentally and physically when they get back," O'Neill said. "It's been a great experience for us in the past and 'Hot Rod' is no different. He came back in great shape."
In choosing a comeback race for the produce of the Indian Charlie mare Indian Miss, O'Neill was swayed by the timing of the Salvator and the prospect of an easier assignment than the July 2 Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.
"His last few works have told us he's ready to get back to the races and looking at the calendar the Salvator fits perfect. I like the mile angle and that he's shipped to Monmouth before and has liked it," O'Neill said. "The Salvator won't be an easy race but it will be a little bit less than the Stephen Foster at this point and will give him a good prep that we can build off."
While O'Neill has not settled on the next stop for his classy 4-year-old, two attractive choices are either the Aug. 6 Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course or the Sept. 3 TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar.
"You will have to have your running shoes on and have a very talented equine athlete to even think about either the Pacific Classic or the Whitney and we're hoping the Salvator Mile will tell us we're in that mix," he said. "I'm excited to see how things progress."
Hot Rod Charlie's previous trip to Monmouth was eventful to say the least. A 4-5 favorite in the $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1), he crossed the wire first by a nose over Mandaloun but was disqualified and placed last for drifting in and causing Midnight Bourbon to stumble and lose his rider. Jockey Flavien Prat was only allowed to use his riding crop as a safety measure a year ago, but state laws have been revised this year allowing jockeys to use the crop a limited number of times.
With Prat committed to ride in New York Saturday, Mike Smith will fly in from California for the mount on the 4-year-old bred by Edward Cox who was bought by Dennis O'Neill for $110,000 from the Small Batch Sales consignment at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.
"He turned in a really good effort last year at Monmouth," O'Neill said. "We were very proud of his effort and grateful that no one got hurt that day."
The two-turn mile stakes will also bring the 6-year-old Mind Control full circle in a career that has spanned 25 starts. The son of Stay Thirsty bred by Red Oak Stable broke his maiden at Monmouth on Aug. 12, 2018, and since then has captured a pair of grade 1 wins while earning $1,471,279 for the ownership group of Red Oak and Sol Kumin's Madaket Stables.
In two 2022 starts, Mind Control was third in the Carter Handicap (G1) and most recently fifth in the Churchill Downs Stakes Presented by Ford (G1) for trainer Todd Pletcher.
The field also includes Charles Fipke's Shirl's Speight , a Speightstown 5-year-old who won the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (G1T) on turf two starts ago. Trained by Roger Attfield, he has raced only once on dirt, finishing fifth in a six-furlong allowance optional claimer last year at Gulfstream Park.
D. J. Stable's Helium won the 2021 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) for trainer Mark Casse but the Ironicus gelding is winless in six starts since, finishing second or third five times.
Monmouth Park, Saturday, June 18, 2022, Race 14Entries: Salvator Mile S. (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Mind Control (KY) John R. Velazquez 118 Todd A. Pletcher 3/1 2 2Mohaafeth (KY) Samuel Marin 118 Elvis Trujillo 20/1 3 3Hot Rod Charlie (KY) Mike E. Smith 124 Doug F. O'Neill 4/5 4 4Shirl's Speight (KY) Emma-Jayne Wilson 124 Roger L. Attfield 6/1 5 5Helium (KY) Samy Camacho 118 Mark E. Casse 8/1 6 6Confessor (MD) Jose A. Batista 118 Gerald S. Bennett 30/1 7 7Phat Man (KY) Paco Lopez 118 J. Kent Sweezey 5/1
