Hot Rod Charlie, outdueled by Mind Control Saturday in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile, likely will make his next start in the Aug. 6 Whitney (G1) at Saratoga.
Trainer Doug O'Neill told Daily Racing Form that Hot Rod Charlie was in good condition after the race and shipped on Sunday to Keeneland, where he will train.
“We’ll huddle up in a week or so and make sure, but the tentative plan is the Whitney,” O’Neill said.
O'Neill also said he thought a mile might be "too short" for Hot Rod Charlie. The 1 1/8-mile Whitney would be the 4-year-old colt's first start at Saratoga.
The Salvator Mile was Hot Rod Charlie's first start since finishing second to Country Grammer in the Dubai World Cup (G1) in March. Before that, he won the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (G2), which was his first win since scoring in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) in September.
