Charlatan: The Real Deal

Excerpt from the TDN 

 

Charlatan, Benoit Photo

Freshly anointed ‘TDN Rising Star’ Charlatan (Speightstown) appears no worse for wear a day after his impressive 5 3/4-length victory in 1:08.85 at Santa Anita Saturday afternoon.

“We knew he was a really fast horse,” said Baffert Monday morning.

Campaigned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables and Stonestreet Stables, the 3-year-old reeled off three consecutive bullet works at Santa Anita this winter, including an eye-catching five-furlong move in :59.60 Jan. 22. Prior to Saturday’s debut score, he breezed five furlongs in :1:00.60 (5/50) at Santa Anita Feb. 11.

“His gate works were very impressive,” Baffert said. “He worked one 12 and two from the gate [Jan. 22] with an older horse and that tipped them off, but I thought he still might need one. He still looks a little soft, and until they run, you don’t know, but he was pretty impressive.”

A $700,000 Keeneland September yearling, the striking chestnut is out of multiple graded stakes winning and Grade I placed Authenticity (Quiet American).