Charlatan to skip Pegasus; head to Saudi Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. – Charlatan, a convincing winner of the Grade 1 Runhappy Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, is expected to have his next start in the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday that the timing of the Saudi Cup at 1 1/8 miles, compared to the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park, was a deciding factor.

“He’ll go to Saudi,” Baffert said. “The Pegasus is coming back a little quick. I’ve got a week to change my mind.”

Owned by a partnership that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, and Stonestreet Stables, Charlatan has crossed the wire first in all four of his starts, but was disqualified from an easy win in a division of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park last May because of a medication violation.

A 4-year-old colt by Speightstown, Charlatan did not race again after the Arkansas Derby until the Malibu Stakes, a layoff caused by an ankle injury. In the $300,500 Malibu Stakes, run at seven furlongs for 3-yearolds, Charlatan stalked the pace before cruising to an attractive win by 4 1/2 lengths, finishing in a quick time of 1:21.50.

On Saturday at Santa Anita, Charlatan worked a half-mile in 49.80 seconds, his first major exercise since the Malibu.

“It was easy,” Baffert said. “He was moving well.”

Gamine back in Baffert stable

Gamine, winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 7 at Keeneland, rejoined Baffert’s stable earlier this month after a brief rest in late 2020.

Gamine’s exercise has been limited to jogging in recent days, Baffert said.

Owned by Michael Petersen, Gamine won the third Grade 1 race of her career in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint, pulling clear by 6 1/4 lengths in the final furlong of the sevenfurlong race.

Gamine won the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park in June and the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga in August before a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in September.

Sanenus to Beholder Mile

Sanenus may start in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on March 13 at Santa Anita after recording her first American stakes win in Saturday’s Grade 3 La Canada Stakes.

Sanenus, trained by Michael McCarthy, has experience in racing at the highest level in South America, having won the Group 1 Tanteo de Potrancas at about 7 1/2 furlongs in Chile in June 2019. She was seventh, fifth, and 12th in Group 1 races in that country later in 2019 and last February.

The $201,000 La Canada Stakes was the fourth start in the United States for Sanenus, a 5-year-old mare owned by Haras Matriarca. She was third in allowance races at Del Mar last August and at Churchill Downs last September before finishing second to Finite in the Grade 3 Chilukki Stakes at a mile on Nov. 21 at Churchill Downs.

“In the last 90 days, she seems to have turned a corner,” McCarthy said.

In the La Canada at 1 1/16 miles, Sanenus (7-1) stalked 4-5 favorite Fighting Mad and Hard Not to Love through the opening half-mile before taking the lead under jockey Umberto Rispoli. Sanenus drew away to win by six lengths.

“She beat what everyone thought would be one of the leaders of the division,” McCarthy said in reference to Fighting Mad.

Hard Not to Love finished third, while Fighting Mad faded to finish fifth of seven.

McCarthy won the 2020 Beholder Mile with Ce Ce, who was later fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 7 at Keeneland. Ce Ce is scheduled to return to McCarthy’s stable in coming days after being rested in late 2020.

Into Chocolate retired

Into Chocolate, winner of the Grade 3 Sherwood Chillingworth Stakes last September at Santa Anita, was recently retired and will be bred to Constitution in coming months, trainer Clifford Sise said Friday.

Owned and bred by Marty and Pam Wygod, Into Chocolate finished fifth in the McConnell Springs Stakes on Nov. 6 at Keeneland in her final start. Sise said breathing issues contributed to the decision.

“She had a couple of issues displacing, so we decided to retire her,” he said.

By Into Mischief, Into Chocolate won 4 of 12 starts and earned $220,531 in a two-year career for Sise and Bill Mott. Into Chocolate was second in the Minaret Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs last February in her debut for Mott and later won an allowance race for him at Belmont Park in July before being moved to Sise’s California stable.

Into Chocolate began her career with Sise in 2019.

BENOIT PHOTO Charlatan, winner of the Grade 1 Malibu on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, is likely to make his next start in the Saudi Cup.