Is undefeated Arkansas Derby winner Charlatan heading for Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup glory for trainer Boib Baffer, with news that Hill’n’Dale has purchase the star colts ‘breeding rights.’
“Horses with Charlatan’s immense ability combined with superior pedigree and conformation are a very rare community,” said John G Sikura, President of Hill’n’Dale. “His raw talent and athleticism enables him to carry his brilliant speed around two turns with ease.”
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert was emotional in stating “this horse is effortless and gets over the ground so easily. He is just exceptionally fast and does it without asking.”
“That’s what the great ones do. To ship him to win a Grade 1 in his third start shows you what I think of him. When you see him in person you say, `wow.’”
Charlatan’s three-from-three success was highlighted by his six length victory in the Arkansas Derby. It was his third ‘easy win’ race, now by a total of 22 lengths with jockey Martin Gaecia.
Charlatan is fitting into a mould of Bob Baffert’s previous Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify, with American Pharoah retiring following a memorable Breeders’ Cup Classic.
In already emulated Justify in being un-raced at two-years, Charlatan won a Maiden Special Weight on debut at three, an Allowance Optical Claimer at his next start before going directly into Graded Stakes company.
Justify went onto to win the Santa Anita Derby at his third start, then claimed the 2015 Triple Crown. After the Belmont Stakes he retired to Ashford Stud, Kentucky and now shuttles to Coolmore Australia.
American Pharoah took a different early-career path in being Champion 2YO Colt in taking out the Del Mar Futurity and Frontrunner Stakes in three juvenile starts.
On winning the Rebel Stakes at his first start at three, American Pharoah next won the Arkansas Derby before being crowned Triple Crown champion of 2015. In addition he won the Haskell Invitational Stakes and was a ‘shock’ second in the Travers Stakes.
In joining the Ashford Stud as the first Grand Slam winner of the Breeders Cup Classic, American Pharoah shuttles to Coolmore Australia as 2015 Horse of The Year, standing alongside Justify.
What now for Charlaten in this COVIT turbulent Triple Crown season, and the Breeders’ Cup World Championship being returned to Lexington for the second running on 6, 7 November.
With the Kentucky Derby being moved to 5 September at Churchill Downs, it is an ideal 1m2f lead into to the Breeders’ Cup Classic of 1m4f on 7 November, some 9 weeks later.
Also, the Arkansas Derby was moved back two weeks to the final day of the Oaklawn Park Racing Festival of The South on Saturday 2 May, normally reserved for the Run for The Roses.
Pimlicio has announced that the Preakness Stakes will be re-scheduled from Saturday 16 May, but no alternate date has been set. There is talk of the Belmont Stakes date could also be moved.
In joining Hill’n’Dale, Charlatan will stand along-side Breeders’ Cup hero Curlin, who in winning the Breeder’s Cup Classic as a three-year-old in 1999 was crowned Horse of The Year.
Also with Curlin at Hill’n’Dale is his Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winning son Good Magic, in addition to Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern, who has his first runners this seson.
The duel Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Midnight Lute was also Champion Sprinter in 2007, with multiple Group 1 winner Flintshire twice finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
The Cartier Handicap winner World of Trouble finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, plus Champion Turf Sire Kitten’s Joy siring the Breeders Cup winners Oscar Performance, Stephanie’s Kitten and Bobby’s Kitten.
