Charlatan

Charlatan emerged on the road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve with his very first win on Feb. 16 at Santa Anita Park. Unraced at age 2, the Speightstown colt trained by two-time Triple Crown winner Bob Baffert won a six-furlong maiden race by 5 ¾ lengths and earned an eye-catching 102 Equibase Speed Figure.

He then stretched out to a two-turn mile allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita on March 14, and was not challenged in posting a pace-setting 10 ¼-length score under Drayden Van Dyke. Charlatan earned a 108 Equibase figure with that win and shot up the rankings of many Kentucky Derby forecasters despite not having yet earned any qualifying points, especially after the 146^th Derby was postponed to Sept. 5 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Charlatan made his graded stakes debut in the first division of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby May 2 at Oaklawn Park and toyed with the opposition in a dominant front-running victory that confirmed the lightly raced colt's class and potential. However, he later tested positive for the prohibited substance lidocaine and was disqualified on July 15 by Oaklawn Park stewards. 

Charlatan missed the delayed Triple Crown races with an ankle injury and did not return to the track until Dec. 26, the opening day of Santa Anita’s winter-spring meet. He contested the seven-furlong, Grade 1 Malibu Stakes, and went off as the second betting choice behind highly regarded and unbeaten Nashville.

With Mike Smith aboard for the first time, Charlatan stalked Nashville early and into the turn before effortlessly moving past that foe and overpowering the field in the stretch to win his comeback race impressively by 4 ½ lengths.

Charlatan was purchased by SF Bloodstock and Starlight West for $700,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale. He is co-owned by SF Racing. Starlight Stables, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Fred Hertrich, John Fielding, and Golconda Stables.

Charlatan made his 2021 debut in the $20-million Saudi Cup and led into deep stretch before giving way late to French classic winner Mishriff at King Abdulaziz Racetrack on Feb. 20

Charlatan’s dam is Grade 2 winner Authenticity, by Quiet American, who earned over $880,000, was runner-up in three Grade 1 races, and finished third in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.