Time on Charlatan's Side for Kentucky Derby

Though Churchill Downs sat empty this first Saturday in May due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the postponement of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) could work in the favor of developing 3-year-olds, including the undefeated and newly-minted grade 1 winner Charlatan.

After the Kentucky Derby was pushed back to Sept. 5, Oaklawn Park moved its signature event, the Arkansas Derby (G1), from April 11 to May 2. Originally scheduled as a $1 million race, the 1 1/8-mile race was split into two $500,000 divisions.

Trained by Bob Baffert for SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Frederick Hertrich III, John Fielding, and Golconda Stables, Charlatan made his stakes debut in the first of two divisions of the race. The frontrunning victory added to impressive maiden and allowance scores at Santa Anita Park and represented only the third start for the Speightstown  colt since his Feb. 16 debut.

Charlatan's Arkansas Derby victory improved his earnings to $367,200. The chestnut colt returned to his Southern California base May 4.

Starlight Racing's managing partner Jack Wolf sees the positives in a delayed Kentucky Derby for Charlatan, who after the Arkansas Derby became the second major Derby contender for the same ownership group (minus Stonestreet) along with Authentic.

"Let's say he would have qualified for the Arkansas Derby if everything was on schedule, then the Kentucky Derby would have been his fourth start in a relatively short period of time. Trying to look at a positive outlook on this stuff, the extra time may really help this horse," Wolf said. "Having said that, Authentic is sitting there with the points and rearing to go. Some horses it will help, some horses it won't. I think actually time will get (Charlatan) to be even better than he is."

Charlatan earned 100 points toward starting eligibility in the Kentucky Derby from his six-length Arkansas Derby score, placing him fourth on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. Authentic, who is also undefeated in three starts for Baffert and won the March 7 San Felipe Stakes (G2) last out, ranks eighth with 60 points.

Bred by Stonestreet, Charlatan was purchased for $700,000 by SF Bloodstock and Starlight West from Denali Stud's consignment to the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Wolf credits a team of bloodstock agents headed by Donato Lanni, Frank Brothers, and Henry Field for working on shortlists and making selections at sales. He also gave a special note to Baffert's involvement in the selection process as well as the good eye of SF Bloodstock's Tom Ryan.

Currently in its 20th year of operation, Starlight Racing was also part of the ownership group to campaign 2018 Triple Crown champion Justify  and owned a part of that year's Derby third-place finisher Audible . They also had two Kentucky Derby runners in 2019 with Improbable, who placed fourth, and Cutting Humor, who finished 10th. 

"We've been spoiled with them lately. This will be, I guess, the third year we have multiple entries. Hopefully—knock on wood—it happens again," Wolf said. "The job that these guys on the team that found these horses, and the job Bob's doing with these 3-year-olds now is just phenomenal, so we're enjoying it for sure."