Two stallions who previously cheered from Churchill Downs steadfast to various editions of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), the Twin Spiers put on another show, this time together in the $498,000 Lukas Classic (G2) on October 1st.
This time it was like that Sizzling Rod Charlie beaten in the 2021 derby, narrowly emerging as the winner Luxurious strike whose name hangs in the winning Kentucky Derby signage above the paddock at Churchill Downs. Sizzling Rod Charlie, an eventual runner-up in the 2021 Derby following Medina Spirit's disqualification, prevailed by one over Luxurious Strike, who pulled off a stunning 80-1 upset in the Run for the Roses this spring.
This Derby victory no longer seems stunning after Luxurious Strike finished fourth in the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) this summer Saratoga Racetrack and after testing Sizzling Rod Charlie, one of the best older horses in training, in his Saturday run.
But Sizzling Rod Charlie, who fell about half a length behind Luxurious Strike with a sixteenth of a mile to go after holding the lead at the start, fought back under Tyler Gaffalione to take his first graded stakes victory in the United States this year.
The winner, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione and trained by Doug O'Neill, ran 1 1/8 miles over a rapid course in 1:49.77 for owners Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, Bill Strauss and Gainesway Thoroughbreds. He quickened the pace Art collector as he posted moderate fractions of :23.55, :47.94 and 1:11.97 before taking the lead early in the lane. He paid $4.66 to win on a $2 bet.
Sizzling Rod Charlie and Luxurious Strike fight to the abyss beneath the Twin Spiers
“Tyler drove it great,” O’Neill said. “He’s one of those horses that I would love to wear blinders on for half the race and take them off for the other half. It was an incredible achievement. Luxurious Strike also ran a winning race. He ran great.”
“(Sizzling Rod Charlie) is a great horse and we are so lucky to have him.”
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In early 2022, Sizzling Rod Charlie, a 4-year-old son of Oxbow He came up brief in the photo finishes and narrowly took second place Express train in the San Antonio Stakes (G2) in February and second again when he came up brief by a head in the Salvator Mile Stakes (G3). Monmouth Park.
Nevertheless, this year was an extremely profitable one, including a win in the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge presented by The Longines Record (G2), a second place finish in the Dubai World Cup (G1) sponsored by Emirates Airline and a third place finish in the Whitney Stakes (G1).
“Doug and his team really had him ready to run today,” Gaffalione said. “We did well and he doesn’t really need to be asked to find a good spot. He really never gave up on me. (Luxurious Strike) did a great job and my horse continued to fight the entire time. He really didn't want to be hit.
Sizzling Rod Charlie's victory on Saturday was his boldest since his three-year-old season, when he scored in Grade 1 and placed twice in classics. After the derby, in which he finished third over the distance, he was ultimately disqualified Medina spirit And he later finished second to the champion Necessary quality in the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1).
In a race decided by inches that Travis Stone described as “desperately close,” Luxurious Strike seemed to relax a bit as he took the lead at the sixteenth pole. He may also have become a little tired after passing closer to the leaders than usual in a ponderous speed race. After half a mile in the Lukas Classic he was only two lengths behind the leaders.
Jockey Sonny Leon, his silk trousers partially filled with air, implored his horse to finish the race with left-handed punches in the final sixteenth while working to maintain balance as his saddle may have slipped to the left. In the stallion's first race against older horses, the performance was almost sufficient, but in the end it was just centimeters too little.
Had Luxurious Strike finished first, he could have faced disqualification as Leon's left elbow would have touched Sizzling Rod Charlie and Gaffalione. At Leon's slow urging, Luxurious Strike came inside.
Few of Luxurious Strike's three-year colleagues among division leaders have competed against their elders.
“It's a tough battle, but we are so proud of the step forward our horse took today,” said trainer Eric Reed. “It was a massive challenge for him to compete against these types of older horses and he has proven he is just as talented. He was a little closer to the pace today, but was still able to fight challenging until the end.”
Longshot King Fury rallied at the railing and secured third place ahead of him Joyful saver in the fourth. Art Collector weakened to fifth place, and Chess boss came sixth. The Lukas Classic had four Grade 1 winners in its brief lineup (Sizzling Rod Charlie, Luxurious Strike, Joyful Saver and Art Collector).
Sizzling Rod Charlie's friends enjoy the trophy presentation for the Lukas Classic
Bred by Edward A. Cox Jr. from the Indian Charlie mare Indian Miss Sizzling Rod Charlie is a half-brother of Mitole Winner of the 2019 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) and Male Sprint Champion of the Year. Five of the mother's six foals at the start are winners. Her non-racing foal is a one-year-old colt from Into disaster and a Instagram edge colt born this year.
Sizzling Rod Charlie was purchased for $110,000 by Bloodstock agent Dennis O'Neill, the trainer's brother, from the Tiny Batch Sales consignment at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. Saturday's win pushed his earnings to over $5.5 million, with a 5-5-4 record in 18 starts.
