Baffert: Charlatan points to Malibu; Uncle Chuck to resume training

Charlatan, Bob Baffert's 3-year-old Speightstown colt who is unraced since undergoing ankle surgery in June, is expected to return for the Dec. 26 Malibu Stakes, the traditional opening day feature of Santa Anita's winter-spring meet.

Baffert told reporters at Keeneland Sunday that the undefeated colt probably will run against Nashville in the seven-furlong race for 4-year-olds.

"They’ll probably hook up there, so that’ll be an exciting race," Baffert said.

Three-year-old Nashville broke his maiden on first try in September and is undefeated in two races since, including the Perryville Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday.

Charlatan, owned by Starlight Racing, SF Racing LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC and Madaket Stables LLC, last raced May 2 in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby. He dominated that event for his third win in as many starts, only to be officially disqualified from the victory in July because a positive drug test, which Baffert contends was caused by innocent human error.

Another Baffert 3-year-old, Uncle Chuck, is expected to resume training in December, the trainer said, "so we'll have him ready in the spring."

The son of Uncle Mo graduated on first try at Santa Anita in June and then scored in the Los Alamitos Derby (G3) in July. Owned by Michael E. Pegram and Karl Watson, he hasn't raced since finishing sixth in the Travers Stakes (G1) in August.

"He just had a little issue," Baffert said. "I thought he was doing well enough then, but he just wasn’t ready for something like that. He had something very minor, but I thought, you know what, I’m just going to freshen him up. And he’s a big, tall horse, he’s going to get better with age. But he’ll be fine."