NEW YORK (AP) — Flavien Prat is riding Hot Rod Charlie in the Belmont despite winning the Preakness aboard Rombauer. It’s the first time in 12 years a jockey chose not to ride the horse he won a Triple Crown race with in the next leg of the series. Hot Rod Charlie trainer Doug O’Neill says Prat and his agent stayed true to their word committing to Hot Rod Charlie after the Kentucky Derby. Prat rode Hot Rod Charlie to a third-place finish in the Derby before the decision was made for the horse to skip the Preakness. Hall of Famer John Velazquez is set to ride Rombauer.
