Stakes Saturday: Charlatan stands out between Derby preps

In response to the coronavirus outbreak, which has forced cancellations or postponements of virtually every major sport, tracks around the globe will continue running race cards, many without spectators. The California, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York and Texas circuits are a go this weekend on the march toward the 2020 Kentucky Derby.

At Oaklawn Park, Saturday’s crowd-free card features the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2), which offers 50 qualifying points to the winner toward the Kentucky Derby. Turfway Park features its Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), and all eyes will be on a second-time starter from the Bob Baffert barn, Charlatan, at Santa Anita Park.

Here's the rundown of can't-miss races in post time order. All times are Eastern.

Oaklawn Park's Essex Handicap (5:17 p.m.)

Bankit, a strong second-place finisher last month in Oaklawn Park's Razorback Handicap (G3), will aim to finish one better over the same track Saturday. A win Saturday would give Bankit his third in a non-graded stakes and first outside his home state of New York. The Essex goes at 1 1/16 miles over the dirt and is the main prep for the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) on April 18.

Turfway Park's Kentucky Cup Classic (5:17 p.m.)

Signalman, a familiar name from last year's Triple Crown Trail, makes his 4-year-old debut in a crowded field for Turfway Park's Kentucky Cup Classic, a 1 1/8-mile event run on Polytrack. Another top contender is  Somelikeithotbrown, a local favorite with three wins over Turfway’s Polytrack, while going back to 2018 Blended Citizen won the Jeff Ruby Steaks.

Oaklawn's Grade 2 Azeri Stakes (5:50 p.m.)

Serengeti Empress, winner of the 2019 Kentucky Oaks, seeks her first victory since taking the lilies last May when she faces six challengers in the Azeri Stakes, the final major local prep for the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) on April 18. Trained by Tom Amoss, Serengeti Empress finished second in the Houston Ladies Classic (G3) during her seasonal bow on Jan. 26. She was beaten that day by Lady Apple, who is also set to be in the Azeri starting gate along with Grade 1 winner Street Band.

Gulfstream Park's Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie (5:52 p.m.)

Nonna Madeline didn’t get any breaks in her most recent start, but with a better departure from the gate the Todd Pletcher trainee should prove tough to beat in Saturday’s Hurricane Bertie. Nonna Madeline was partly responsible for her third-place finish in the Inside Information (G2) by leaving the starting gate slowly, but the 4-year-old daughter of Candy Ride was valiant in defeat despite having to be steadied on the backstretch.

Turfway's Bourbonette Oaks (5:55 p.m.)

Three-time winner Laura's Light, who enters off a victory in the 5 1/2-furlong Sweetest Life (G3) at Santa Anita, has previous experience over a synthetic surface, breaking her maiden by 2 1/2 lengths at Golden Gate Fields under previous trainer Jamey Thomas. Now conditioned by Peter Miller, she's the morning-line favorite for this 1-mile race offering points to the top four finishers on the road to the Kentucky Oaks on a 20-8-4-2 scale.

Oakawn's Grade 2 Rebel Stakes (6:23 p.m.)

Baffert is No. 1 in Rebel Stakes victories, and his latest hope, Nadal, will break from post No. 1 in the $1 million race for 3-year-olds Saturday afternoon. Nadal will try to remain unbeaten in his two-turn debut and first start outside California. In his stakes debut, the son of Blame won the San Vicente (G2) on Feb. 9 at Santa Anita. Baffert is seeking his seventh Rebel victory after taking the race in 2010 (Lookin At Lucky), 2011 (The Factor), 2012 (Secret Circle), 2014 (Hoppertunity), 2015 (American Pharoah) and 2016 (Cupid).

Santa Anita Park's Race 6 allowance (6:35 p.m.)

Although plenty of attention will be focused on the Beholder Mile, the eyes of the racing world will also be riveted on the race just before it, a $57,000 allowance for 3-year-olds at one mile. Baffert’s talented Charlatan, a 5 3/4-length first-out maiden winner on Feb. 16, will attempt to follow in the footsteps of Baffert’s 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify as he stretches out and tries to muscle his way onto the Kentucky Derby trail.

Turfway's Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks (6:42 p.m.)

It’s fitting that Field Pass and Invader are one-two on the morning line for Jeff Ruby Steaks. Their trainers are also neck-and-neck in the standings for the current Turfway Park meet. Wesley Ward trains Invader, who tops the morning line at 3-1, while Mike Maker conditioners Field Pass, the 7-2 second choice. Ward currently leads Maker 15 wins to 13 in the Turfway standings. A full dozen will line up for the Jeff Ruby Steaks, which awards 20 points to the winner toward the Kentucky Derby.

Santa Anita's Grade 1 Beholder Mile (7:07 p.m.)

Blinded in one eye since an incident as a youngster, trainer John Shirreffs’ brilliant Hard Not to Love seeks her fourth consecutive win as she heads a field of seven older fillies and mares in Saturday’s Beholder Mile. With two graded stakes wins at the current Winter Meet, the most recent a 3 1/2-length romp in the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes, the daughter of Hard Spun will be trying two turns for the first time. Hard Not to Love’s primary opposition would appear to be Grade 1 winner Ollie’s Candy and Bob Baffert’s multiple graded stakes placed Mother Mother, who has been beaten by the top selection in two out of her last three starts.