Charlatan romps to allowance victory, earns 106 Beyer

The promising 3-year-old colt Charlatan continued to emulate Justify on Saturday at Santa Anita with an overpowering victory in a one-mile allowance race, his first start since a runaway maiden victory last month.

Charlatan ($2.60) won Saturday’s race by 10 1/4 lengths over four outmatched rivals. His final time of 1:36.24 was more than a second faster than the final time (1:37.33) of the older filly Ce Ce in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile 32 minutes later. Rushie, an 11-1 shot, was second, with the comebacking Great Power another 2 1/4 lengths back in third. He earned a 106 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest by any 3-year-old this year.

Charlatan has many of the same connections – owners and trainer – as Justify, the 2018 Triple Crown winner, and so far their careers are remarkably similar. Justify got a Beyer Speed Figure of 104 going seven furlongs on Feb. 18, 2018. Charlatan got a Beyer figure of 105 going six furlongs on Feb. 16. Justify successfully stretched out for the first time on March 11, 2018, on a muddy, sealed track, and won a first-level allowance by 6 1/2 lengths. Charlatan, a son of Speightstown, won by an even larger margin on a track that was rated fast despite rain that fell during the afternoon.

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“Pretty impressive,” said Bob Baffert, who trained Justify and trains Charlatan. “It started raining, so the track’s a little muddy, a little deep. He was blowing pretty good. He’ll get a lot out of it. This should move him way up.”

Drayden Van Dyke was aboard Charlatan, who clicked off fractions of 23.14 seconds, 46.86, and 1:11.04 for his front-running win.

“He nudged him a little and he just got into it. He’s so fast,” Baffert said. “He was just cruising out there.”

Charlatan gives Baffert three of the best prospects for the Kentucky Derby right now, along with Nadal, who won the Rebel Stakes on Saturday at Oaklawn, and Authentic, who won the San Felipe last weekend. All are unbeaten.

Baffert said he was not sure where Charlatan would run next. And, like everyone in the sport, he’s keenly aware of how the coronavirus situation may impact the Derby, what with Churchill Downs announcing on Saturday that an update on the race – scheduled for May 2 – would be revealed this week.

“Those three, they’re just outstanding horses,” Baffert said. “Now we need the Kentucky Derby to be run, or maybe just delayed a couple weeks. That’s the obstacle right now.”

Charlatan’s ownership group includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables – all of whom were in on Justify – as well as his breeder, Stonestreet Stables.