Baffert has a loaded barn for Triple Crown once again - Times Union

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The Kentucky Derby should have been run three days ago.

It has been rescheduled for Sept. 5 because of the coronavirus pandemic. If the race does indeed happen, here's something not too surprising. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is going to be a major player in the 146th running of the Run for the Roses.

Baffert has won the Derby five times and the past two Triple Crown winners — American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018 — came from his California barn. This might sound crazy, but this year might be the best group of horses he has ever had on the Triple Crown trail.

He has a trio of 3-year-olds, all of which are being mentioned as being the next wonder horse. Two of them, Nadal and Charlatan, each won a division of the Grade I Arkansas Derby last weekend at Oaklawn Park. Both did it easily.

Charlatan, with jockey Martin Garcia, ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.49 and won by six lengths; Nadal and jockey Joel Rosario were clocked in 1:48.34 and won by three lengths.

"I would have been very disappointed if they did not do what they did," Baffert said by phone from Santa Anita Park on Monday. "The way they were training, all they had to do was get away."

1of2Joel Rosario, top, and Nadal head into the Winner's Circle after winning the second division of the Arkansas Derby horse race Saturday, May 2, 2020, at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, Ark. (Richard Rasmussen/The Sentinel-Record via AP)Richard Rasmussen

2of2Martin Garcia, top, and eventual winner Charlatan (1) lead the field past the grandstand during the first division of the Arkansas Derby, Saturday, May 2, 2020, at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, Ark. (Richard Rasmussen/The Sentinel-Record via AP)Richard Rasmussen

That's what they did. Nadal came from just off the pace to win his division and Charlatan rocketed out of the gate and no one could run with him. The third member of the Baffert trio is Authentic, last seen winning the Grade II San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita.

Combined, the three horses have 10 wins in 10 starts by a combined 43 1/2 lengths. Who is the best of the bunch? You will get no answer from Baffert. At last not yet.

"I'm just lucky and grateful to have these three horses," Baffert said. "I can't separate them, I really can't."

Charlatan has already been getting comparisons to the swift Justify, who retired undefeated in six starts after his Triple Crown. Nadal, named for tennis champion Rafael Nadal, showed Baffert in Arkansas he could sit off the pace after winning two of his first three starts on the front end. Authentic, who will run in the rescheduled Santa Anita Derby on June 6 provided the track gets the final OK to reopen, continues to impress Baffert with each passing week.

"Charlatan is so fast and talented, he is a smaller version of Justify," Baffert said. "He is quick, he stays out of trouble and he's gone. I just told Rosario to get Nadal out of there. He is a very strong horse."

And, to show just how deep Baffert's 3-year-old team is, the best of the bunch may still be in the barn waiting to run. That would be the unraced Cezzane, a son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. He was purchased for a record $3.65 million by Coolmore Stud at the Fasig-Tipton select 2-year-old in training sales last year.

Charlatan, Cezzane and perhaps Nadal all benefit from having the Kentucky Derby switched to September as it gives them more time to develop.

Now, of course, the question is what is next for the Baffert threesome. We know Authentic's destination. Baffert doesn't know where Charlatan and Nadal will go next because there are no races scheduled to point for. Possibilites include the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, if that is rescheduled. Also on the radar is the Belmont Stakes, which could end up being the first race of the Triple Crown season.

The New York Racing Association is still waiting for the green light from Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and the health department as to when Belmont Park could open. Baffert said he would not be sending any of his horses to New York to run in the Belmont if the race stays at its traditional 1 1/2-mile distance.

"We don't have a trail yet," Baffert said. "All we know is that Sept. 5 is the Derby. The whole picture is changed. I am just glad I have the horses that I have."

twilkin@timesunion.com • 518-454-5415 • @tjwilkin

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