Impressive Charlatan Adds to Baffert's Derby Hopefuls
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Charlatan scores on debut at Santa Anita Park
Trainer Bob Baffert always has one waiting in the wings. And when it comes to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), he regularly has a colt or two in his back pocket.
Think back to, well, just two years ago. Baffert won his second Triple Crown with a colt named Justify , who made his debut Feb. 18 that year.
It's no surprise that he has unveiled another Derby hopeful Feb. 16 at Santa Anita Park, where Charlatan broke his maiden by 5 3/4 lengths, finishing six furlongs in 1:08.85 on a fast track.
Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke for an ownership group that includes SF Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, and Starlight Racing, the son of Speightstown went off as the 6-5 second choice.
Breaking from the outside in a field of four, Charlatan was away a step slowly but got into contention quickly. Making the lead at the five-furlong pole, he maintained a 1 1/2-length advantage over Shooters Shoot through fractions of :21.89 and :44.72 for the half-mile, while 3-5 favorite Lane Way was in tight quarters at the rail. Charlatan widened through the lane, geared down by Van Dyke.
"I gigged him just a little after the break, just to get him into the race," Van Dyke said. "I really didn't know that much about him. You could see he had a couple bullet works from the gate and that he'd been training well. He blew by those horses so easy, and as you could see, he galloped out big."
Charlatan is now poised to join a Baffert Derby lineup that includes San Vicente Stakes (G2) winner Nadal, multiple graded stakes winner Thousand Words, Sham Stakes (G3) winner Authentic, American Pharoah Stakes (G1) winner Eight Rings, and Saturday's El Camino Real Derby winner Azul Coast.
"This race gives us great hope," Bob Liewald said on behalf of Starlight Racing, which was also a part owner of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. "The (final) time on this racetrack was pretty good. The next race, we'll have to step up in a bigger field and see what happens."
Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Charlatan is out of the grade 1-placed Quiet American mare Authenticity, who was purchased by Stonestreet in 2013 for $1.2 million at The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton's breeding stock sale in Lexington. Charlatan was himself a $700,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase when SF Bloodstock and Starlight West partnered on the colt consigned by Denali Stud.