Charlatan back home at Santa Anita

Charlatan, second in the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 20 in Saudi Arabia, has returned to trainer Bob Baffert’s stable at Santa Anita after completing quarantine earlier this month.

Charlatan arrived Saturday and had his first day of minor exercise Tuesday. There was no training of any sort on Wednesday at Santa Anita because of an early morning rain storm.

A 4-year-old colt, Charlatan set the pace in the Saudi Cup at 1 1/8 miles, but could not hold off the stretch run of Mishriff, who won by a length.

“He looks good,” Baffert said Wednesday. “It didn’t take that much out of him.”

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Charlatan is expected to resume racing this spring. Owned by the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables, Charlatan has won 3 of 5 starts and earned $3,747,200. He was an impressive winner of the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.