'Picking up the slack' at Oaklawn, Garcia inherits mount on Charlatan

As Bob Baffert put it Sunday, “I use riders who help me.”

The productive renewed partnership of him and Martin Garcia led to the jockey regaining top stakes mounts next weekend at Oaklawn Park. There, Charlatan leads a division of the Arkansas Derby (G1) and Improbable goes in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2).

“He’s picking up the slack,” Baffert said of Garcia. “He’s working them, and he knows my horses really well.”

Garcia has taken his tack to New York, Kentucky and now Arkansas in recent months, trying to settle after a 2016 falling out between him and Baffert slowed the rising star’s ascent.

The convergence of California horsemen to Oaklawn amid a shutdown to racing at Santa Anita Park put the two back in touch, contributing to the 6-for-11 record the Baffert barn had at the meet leading into this weekend.

Charlatan will ship in Monday for the Arkansas Derby along with stablemate Nadal, the Rebel Stakes (G2) winner who has Joel Rosario back in the irons. Drayden Van Dyke formerly rode Charlatan, who received comparisons to Justify when breaking his maiden and going through an allowance condition with ease to open his career.

As for the decision to switch riders, Baffert cited Santa Anita protocols that prevent jockeys from coming on the grounds amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“So Drayden, who rides all my horses, he can’t work them — can’t do anything,” Baffert said. “He’s not getting on horses.”

Garcia, a more currently active rider who breezed Improbable through five furlongs in 1:00.20 on Sunday, inherited the mount, at least for one race. Van Dyke also holds the assignment on unbeaten Grade 2-winning sophomore Authentic.

Garcia formerly served as the work rider for 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and had the call on, among others, Grade 1 winners Bayern and Dortmund in recent years.

“It helps to have Martin here,” Jimmy Barnes, Baffert’s top assistant, said recently from Oaklawn. “It’s been a big help. He knows our horses so well. He knows how Bob wants them worked. You go out there with a lot of confidence.”

Will the teamwork continue after Oaklawn's meet ends Saturday?

“We’re just so happy to be running right now," Baffert said. "We don’t think beyond this. In this world right now, we don’t think beyond a week.”

The likely favorite in his field of 11, Charlatan drew the rail. Improbable, second in the Oaklawn Mile in his last start, landed back in the outside gate, post 14, for the Oaklawn Handicap.