Nadal, Charlatan progress toward the Arkansas Derby
Unless Oaklawn Park officials decide to run split divisions of the Arkansas Derby (G1), Bob Baffert may not see both his prospects make the body of the $750,000 race.
In the meantime, though, Baffert is training Nadal and Charlatan as if they’ll take on the 1 1/8-mile challenge on May 2 at Oaklawn Park.
“Right now, everything is speculation,” Baffert said Tuesday. “It’s day by day, hour by hour. All I know is they’re both being prepared for it.”
On Wednesday, Nadal breezed a bullet five furlongs in 59.80 seconds at Santa Anita Park, while Charlatan registered six furlongs in 1:12.20, also fastest at the distance according to Equibase.
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Nadal is certain to qualify for the Arkansas Derby, which has taken on increased interest from horsemen as Oaklawn continues to race amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and may go as the race favorite. A son of Blame, the unbeaten colt is 3-for-3 and a last out Rebel Stakes (G2) winner.
Charlatan, meanwhile, is more of a question mark. While the Speightstown colt is 2-for-2 with maiden (5 3/4) and allowance (10 1/4) victories by open lengths at Santa Anita, priority to start in the Arkansas Derby will be determined by earnings, of which he has $67,200, less than many of his would-be rivals with prior stakes experience.
“If he doesn’t get in, he doesn’t get in,” Baffert said.
The situation is less dire given the 2020 Kentucky Derby’s postponement to Sept. 5. In the meantime, the Arkansas Derby is the only points-paying prep on the schedule, offering a 100-40-20-10 payout to its top-four finishers. Churchill Downs officials will add more races to the road to the Derby pending finalized stakes calendars this summer.