'Hot Rod' Ready to Rev Up in 2022 Lukas Classic Stakes

The Grade 2 Lukas Classic Stakes takes place at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Hot Rod Charlie leads the field with over $5.2 million in career earnings. Art Collector has won 10 of 19 career starts and banked over over$2.3 million. Happy Saver has finished second in three straight top races since returning from a five-month layoff. King Fury has four of 14 wins in his career. Rich Strike shocked the world by winning the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve in May.

Hot Rod Charlie has been worse than third in 13 of his last 14 races. He's won five of those 14 and was beaten by inches in another two. Hot RodCharlie won the TVG.com Haskell Stakes last year but was disqualified for interference. After three months off, he won a Pennsylvania Derby and finished third at the Whitney Stake. Happy Saver has run against the top three horses in North America on dirt since May. The horse is favored to win the Lukas Classic.  Happy Savers last Equibase figure (122) is tied for the best by any horse in this field ever.