Hot Rod Charlie warms up for Dubai World Cup

There are three official Kentucky Derby prep races on the weekend schedule. Hot Rod Charlie is preparing for the $12 million Dubai World Cup. Oaklawn Park canceled the races because of Winter Storm Landon. Breeders' Cup winner Ce Ce returns to the track at Santa Anita.

Mo Donegal is the morning-line favorite for Saturday's $250,000 Grade III Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park. The Robert Lewis at Santa Anita has a pair of Bob Baffert-trained horses. There are also some newcomers, including Early Voting and Giant Game. The Claiborne Swale at the Gulf Stream Park has six 3-year-olds going 7 furlongs. It's Dale Romans' quest for a Derby winner. He's saddling Simplification, Tiz the Bomb and White Abarrio. Hot Rod Charlie is training for Dubai World Cup.

There are five horses in the $200,000 Grade III Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita on Sunday. Two of them are trained by Baffert. The weather is forecast to be 72 degrees and mostly sunny.

Radio Days is the favorite for Saturday's $100,000 Grade III Forward Gal at Gulfstream Park. Bob Baffert saddles two of the five runners for Sunday's Grade 3 Las Virgenes at Santa Anita. Eda is a Munnings filly who won the Grade I Starlet at Los Alamitos in her most recent outing. Queen of Thorns, a Violence fillie trained by Peter Eurton, is not likely to make it.

Hopeful Treasure is likely to be among the frontrunners in Saturday's $150,000 Grade III Toboggan at 7 furlongs. Drafted is still seeking his first win since returning from Dubai at the end of 2020. Happy Medium has three straight wins and steps up in class.

Saturday's $100,000 Grade III Kitten's Joy for 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles on the turf, features the winner and runner-up from the local Pulpit Stakes, Red Danger and Speaking Scout. Coinage, a Tapit colt, finished ninth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf last summer. Royal Spirit, who won his maiden race for trainer Todd Pletcher, cost $450,00 as a yearling. Saturday's Grade 3 Sweetest Chant for fillies, also on turf at Gulfstream Park, has surface-switchers, recent maiden winners and question marks.

The $250,000 Grade III Bayakoa for fillies and mares at 1.1 miles was cancelled because of the winter weather. It was rescheduled for next Saturday in support of Razorback Handicap. Coach, a 4-year-old Commissioner filly trained by Brad Cox, was the nominal favorite. Queen Goddess, Matera and Mariah's Princess also got attention from the oddsmaker.

Ce Ce is the favorite in Saturday's $200,000 Grade II Santa Monica for fillies and mares at 7 furlongs. Baffert has two graded stakes winners from the Baddert barn, Kalypso and Merneith. Spielberg took a nine-month break after finishing eighth in last year's Florida Derby. Subconscious won the Grade I Twilight Derby in October and finished fifth in the grade I Hollywood Derby last month. Hurricane Cloud is a son of Frankel racing in France.

There are two Grade III stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the grass at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday. Devamani is the 3-1 morning-line favorite. Lady Speightspeare is 3/1 favorite in the Grade 3 Endeavour Stakes. Cellist, a 4-year-old by Big Blue Kitten out of the English Channel mare Cello, makes his first start since being gelded.

Louisiana-bred Premier Night program has 11 races for state-breeds on Saturday night. Most of the fields are well-subscribed and competitive.

Hot Rod Charlie is going to race in the Maktoum Challenge Round 2 at Meydan on Friday evening. The race is a prep for the $12 million Dubai World Cup. Godolphin is fielding six of the 10 entrants in Balanchine. William Buick will ride Creative Flair and Frankie Dettori on Soft Whisper. The Balancine is for fillies and mares at 1,800 meters on the turf. It's a potential preview for Jebbel Hatta on Super Saturday and the Dubai Turf on World Cups night. There's also Jumeirah Classic Presented by Longines Elegant at the same course.

Rohaan is a Royal Ascot winner and is one of the star attractions in two listed races at Lingfield Park on Saturday. Good Effort is the slight favorite in the Betway Winter Derby Trial. Fancy Man is also a contender.   in both races. Hot Rod Charlie is preparing for Dubai World Cup. He has already trained.