HOT Rod Charlie became the latest colt to break through to the top level by taking the Grade 2 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds on Saturday and is now heading straight to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1st.

The three-year-old Oxbow colt, a half-brother to 2019 champion sprinter Mitole, is trained by Doug O’Neill, who has won the Derby twice, in 2012 and 2016, with I’ll Have Another and Nyquist.

Hot Rod Charlie took the lead after the opening quarter-mile in the Louisiana Derby and continued on to victory under Joel Rosario. He completed nine and a half furlongs in a track record time of 1m55.06secs beating Midnight Bourbon by two lengths.

Hot Rod Charlie and Midnight Bourbon are now ranked first with 110 points and second with 66 points on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. Midnight Bourbon is also expected to continue on to the Kentucky Derby.

Doug O’Neill’s assistant Leandro Mora was the registered trainer on Saturday as O’Neill is serving a 10-day suspension after one of his horses tested positive for lidocaine last year.

“It was surprising that he went to the lead, but when he broke so sharply, Rosario made the decision to go, which some riders don’t like to do. Some riders kind of panic in that situation and pull back but Joel made the horse feel comfortable,” he said afterwards.

“Hot Rod Charlie reminds me of I’ll Have Another, who had ups and downs before he became the horse he was at the end of his career … was nothing but a speed horse early on,” Mora added.

Mora said connections hoped to keep Rosario aboard Hot Rod Charlie for the Kentucky Derby, but the jockey is also the regular rider for Rebel Stakes winner Concert Tour, trained by Bob Baffert.

Steve Asmussen’s assistant Scott Blasi said of the runner-up. “Big effort and he’s another horse … that’s just going to continue to improve. I don’t think distance will be an issue with him and the timing, back to the Derby, off this series here, there will be plenty of time to freshen up and run his best race.”

BOB Baffert had less good news as his leading Kentucky Derby contender Life Is Good was ruled off the Triple Crown trail. He suffered an injury in training and the colt was due to undergo surgery this week for a small chip in his left-hind ankle.

Life Is Good had moved to the head of the Derby markets after he romped home by eight lengths in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita at the beginning of the month.

Baffert spoke on LA radio. “He couldn’t have worked more beautifully. It was a great, nice cruising work like he usually does. He’s so light on his feet. He came back, the rider said he felt great … Then all of a sudden later in the morning, you could tell something was bothering him in the hind leg.

“He took a couple funny steps, so that’s when we realised he had done something to his hind leg. He’ll be fine, he’ll be back. It wasn’t anything serious but it’s enough that he’ll need some time off.”

Medina Spirit will now represent Baffert in the Santa Anita Derby next week while his other leading contender for Churchill Downs, Concert Tour, moved to the head of the Derby market and will run next in the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn on April 10th.