Woody Stephens Becomes a Possibility for Charlatan

One day after reports surfaced that Charlatan failed an initial drug test following his victory in the first division of the May 2 Arkansas Derby (G1), the 3-year-old returned to the work tab for an easy half-mile drill and may have a new target for his next race.

The :50 work May 27 at Santa Anita Park for trainer Bob Baffert was the first for Charlatan since his victory in the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, which is now in dispute following the May 26 reports that post-race testing revealed traces of a banned substance.

A split sample is now being tested and if it confirms the initial positive that would likely result in the disqualification of Charlatan and a redistribution of purse money and Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) qualifying points from the win at Oaklawn.

And while Charlatan and fellow Baffert trainee Nadal, winner of the second division of the Arkansas Derby, were mentioned as candidates for the June 20 Belmont Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, Baffert is backing away from plans to run both horses in the opening leg of the 2020 Triple Crown. He will most likely point Charlatan toward the seven-furlong, $250,000 Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Claiborne Farm (G1), one of four graded events on the Belmont Stakes undercard, and run Nadal in the Belmont.

Plans to run Charlatan in the Woody Stephens were being discussed before the news of the drug positive, according to Baffert and a member of the colt's ownership group that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Fred Hertrich III, John Fielding, and Golconda Stables. If Charlatan runs in the Woody Stephens, it would likely be a steppingstone to a start in the July 18 TVG.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park.

"I really don't want to run both horses in the (Belmont Stakes). The Woody Stephens was an option for Charlatan before (Tuesday) and I'm not going to let what happened since then change my thinking," said Baffert, who did not discuss any particulars of the failed drug test, citing confidentiality. "I don't want to rule anything out, because I may not like the way Nadal is training and I might start just Charlatan in the Belmont. In a perfect world, both of them will not start in the Belmont, but we'll see. It's still three weeks away."

As for the workout, which was the 23rd fastest of 37 at the distance, Baffert's goal was to teach the speedy son of Speightstown  to relax and rate.

"I worked Charlatan with another horse and made him relax next to him. I was teaching him to rate," Baffert said. "At Oaklawn, I told them to let him go and get the job done."

While the Belmont Stakes may lose one of its headliners, it could pick up another intriguing candidate in Unbridled Stakes winner Dr Post, who has captured two of his three career starts. Trainer Todd Pletcher said Wednesday he is considering running St. Elias Stable's son of Quality Road  in the 1 1/8-mile test along with Farmington Road and Gouverneur Morris. 

Gouverneur Morris was third behind Charlatan and Basin in the Arkansas Derby and if there is a disqualification after the release of the split sample, he would be elevated to second and receive an additional $50,000 in purse money and 20 more points toward a start in the Kentucky Derby.

The Arkansas Derby, which carried a purse of $500,000 in each division, awarded $300,000 to the winners and 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers in each split.