Charlatan ready to go for $20 million Saudi Cup

Charlatan, the winner of the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, will be flown to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 20. Charlatan will depart two days after a seven-furlong workout that left trainer Bob Baffert enthusiastic about the colt’s chance in the world’s richest race.

On Sunday at Santa Anita, Charlatan was timed in 1:24.60, the only horse to work at the extended distance.

“He looked incredible,” Baffert said. “I put a serious drill into him. He worked really well.

“He’s ready for his trip and hopefully everything goes well in the shipping.”

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Charlatan had quick six-furlong workouts in 1:12.60 on Jan. 27 and in 1:12.80 on Feb. 2. The pattern of fast works continued Sunday.

“He needed to show me that,” Baffert said. “If he hadn’t worked well, I wouldn’t have sent him.

“It’s a challenge. You can have the best horse and not win. We feel good about his chances.”

As of Sunday, Charlatan was the 5-2 favorite with British bookmakers over fellow American shipper Knicks Go and Mishriff of England at 7-1. Knicks Go won the Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 23. Mishriff won the Group 1 French Derby at Chantilly last July, and was second in the Saudi Derby on dirt on the same card as the 2020 Saudi Cup last February.

Charlatan, a 4-year-old colt by Speightstown, has finished first in all four of his starts, but was disqualified from a win in a division of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park last May for a medication violation.

The seven-furlong Malibu Stakes has been Charlatan’s only subsequent start. Charlatan won the Malibu by 4 1/2 lengths under jockey Mike Smith, who will have the mount in Saudi Arabia, Baffert said.

Charlatan races for a large partnership that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables.