Baffert Outlines Plans for 3-Year-Olds in NBC Interview

In a video interview with Randy Moss and Jerry Bailey of NBC Sports, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert called Authentic, Charlatan, and Nadal his 3-year-olds with "superstar material" and outlined plans for the unbeaten trio and other leading horses in his Southern California-based stable.

Charlatan—2-for-2 but lacking qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), postponed until Sept. 5—is aimed for the May 2 Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park, a race that also could attract Nadal, the Rebel Stakes (G2) winner, Baffert said. Meanwhile, he intends to back off the training of Authentic, tack-walking him for a couple of weeks before pointing him toward a race such as the Affirmed Stakes (G3), which is scheduled for June 14 at Santa Anita Park if racing resumes there amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I could get him ready like in three works," Baffert said. "He can be ready to roll because he's that type; he's that kind of physical, where a heavier horse, you can't back off too much of them."

Authentic, a son of Into Mischief , is a May foal Baffert describes as immature but talented. He won the Sham Stakes (G3) and San Felipe Stakes (G2) following a maiden victory for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Frederick Hertrich III, John Fielding, and Golconda Stables. That group also owns Charlatan, who has recorded some of the highest speed figures by a 3-year-old this year in winning a Feb. 16 maiden race and a March 14 allowance race, both at Santa Anita.

Nadal, a son of Blame  owned by George Bolton, Arthur Hoyeau, Barry Lipman, and Mark Mathiesen, captured a maiden race and the San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita prior to winning the Rebel at Oaklawn. 

Baffert speculated that Charlatan, a Speightstown  colt, could run in California as an alternative to Oaklawn Park if full-scale Thoroughbred racing resumes in the coming weeks, perhaps at Los Alamitos Race Course. Both Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields in California were forced by their counties' health departments to abandon racing over COVID-19 restrictions that have closed businesses deemed nonessential.

If the Arkansas Derby draws an overflow field, Charlatan could be at risk of exclusion from the key Derby prep. Preference in the 1 1/8-mile race is given to the top three finishers from the April 11 Oaklawn Stakes at the Arkansas track, where Baffert has entered dual graded stakes winner Thousand Words, and then by earnings. Charlatan has made only $67,200.

Also during the interview, Baffert said his leading older horses Mucho Gusto and McKinzie were doing well after returning from the Middle East, though McKinzie needed time to recover weight lost from his travel.

The full Baffert interview can be viewed on the NBC Sports website.