‘Bubble wrap’ time for Arkansas Derby winners Charlatan, Nadal

Trainer Bob Baffert had Charlatan and Nadal ready to peak on the first Saturday in May when both won divisions of the Arkansas Derby (G1). Next, he’ll plan their run up to 2020 Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in September.

Baffert said both unbeaten horses exited their victories well, eating up the morning after. A trip back to Santa Anita Park is up next.

“Right now, with those two colts I’m not even thinking about a race for them,” Baffert said. “I’m going to get them back here, put them in bubble wrap and find a spot down the road. They’ve had some tough races. They can use a couple weeks off.”

Nadal made the Arkansas Derby his third straight graded stakes score since he debuted a winner on Jan. 19, also adding victories in the San Vicente (G2) and Rebel Stakes (G2).

The way the Blame colt went about Saturday’s race was different. After Wells Bayou crossed over the field from an outside post, Nadal, under jockey Joel Rosario, rated just back and to the pace setter’s outside.

“Now (Rosario) knows even better that he doesn’t need to go that fast early with him,” Baffert said. “He can be even farther back. He didn’t take any chances yesterday because he didn’t know how good the horse was.”

Two races earlier, in the Arkansas Derby’s first division, Charlatan sent from the rail, going wire to wire in his stakes debut. The Speightstown colt received comparisons to the 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify when breaking his maiden, then progressing through allowance company with ease having not made it to the races until February.

“Charlatan, if he had to, he can rate also, but we didn’t let him yesterday,” Baffert said. “He was in the one hole. The plan was, he had to go. You just didn’t worry about it. Nadal, if he had been in the one hole, that would have been the plan, too.”

Nadal received a 98 Beyer Speed Figure and Charlatan a 96.

“Charlatan — he’s just that raw talent,” Baffert said. “That first out when he went 1:08 4/5 was sick. They just don’t do that. And then he came back and won the mile like he did and yesterday, he was having fun out there.

“Nadal, he’s workmanlike. He’s tough. He wants to win. He’s gritty.

“Now everybody knows how good they are.”