(Newswire.net — June 2, 2020) — In just a few weeks, the horse racing industry will be looking forward to one of the most anticipated races of the year, the Belmont Stakes. For the first time in the Triple Crown Series, the competition will be kicked off with the Belmont Stakes, which will be held at Belmont Park.
Many horse racing experts have begun releasing early predictions and favorite Belmont Stakes horses. One of the names making a lot of noise is Charlatan, who is a contender expected to make history this year.
Take a look at Charlatan’s racing history, his training under renowned Triple Crown series horse trainer Bob Baffert, and the controversies lingering on the side lanes.
Charlatan’s Race Records
Charlatan is a three-year-old Chestnut Colt born in 2017 and a Kentucky thoroughbred. He debuted on February 20th at the MSW, running at a 6f distance and leading the race with a record time of 1:08.85. He won his first race, with Shooters Shoot and Lane Way following close behind him.
On March 14th, Charlatan ran once more at AlwOC, still placing first while Rushie and Great Power came in second and third place, respectively. At 1:36.24 record time, Charlatan ran the 1-mile distance.
His latest race was the Arkansas Derby, with Charlatan running at 1 1/8 (1,810 meters) distance. The colt dashed through the field at 1:48.49 record time, while Basin and Gouverneur Morris were close on his tail.
Undoubtedly, Charlatan has been acing all three consecutive races ever since training with the legendary Bob Baffert and Martin Garcia, his jockey, riding on his back.
Charlatan was showing great potential to be part of the Kentucky Derby, immediately turning into a crowd favorite after winning the Arkansas Derby. He managed to earn 100 points, which is a straight ticket to the Kentucky Derby- that is, if the usual Triple Crown series procedure was followed. With the coronavirus pandemic, Charlatan is probably headed forward to run in the Belmont Stakes.
Charlatan’s Training Amidst the Pandemic
Training and conditioning a horse to race at a long distance is considered one of the trials trainers need to face during the pandemic. Due to the imposed lockdown, training venues are closed off, making it difficult for horses to begin training.
Fortunately, after Charlatan’s race at AlwOC, he had already started his workouts at Santa Anita, on a dirt field, with a track stretching at a 4F distance.
The training continues for Charlatan to complete both 6F and 7F distances, all of which have time records. The legendary Triple Crown winning-trainer Bob Baffert pushes through in having Charlatan complete his workouts until June 20th. Even with the controversies surrounding his horses, including Charlatan, Baffert still urges the training to continue.
Charlatan’s Eligibility Questioned
A controversy regarding the initial post-race testing at Oaklawn on May 2nd (where the Arkansas Derby was being held) questions how eligible Charlatan’s qualification is to enter the prominent race.
News reports say that Charlatan, the declared winner of Arkansas Derby Division 1, did not pass the initial post-race testing. Later on, news spread out that Charlatan tested positive for a banned substance called lidocaine. Unfortunately, Charlatan was not alone with a positive result. His stablemate, Gamine, was also positive with the substance.
Lidocaine is a local numbing agent. However, it is a regulated substance that can help with suturing wounds. This substance is also present in ointments and creams used on cuts or abrasions. When referring to the Association of Racing Commissioners International, the anesthetic is considered a Class 2 drug.
When proven positive with excessive use of the substance, the horse will be subjected to a 15-to-60 day suspension with a $500 to $1,000 fine for a first offense. There is also a possibility for the horse to be disqualified from the competition and nullifying his win.
Baffert himself contested the results. He exercised his rights and requested a second round of testing for his horses. The testing will take another week or longer for the results to be produced. The delays are highly anticipated, especially with the pandemic going around and requiring all laboratories to process collected specimens every day.
This only means one thing: it will be a slow process, and Charlatan’s eligibility for the Belmont Stake is still unclear. Both fans and experts alike are tuning in to see how this story will progress.
Takeaway
Charlatan is an outstanding thoroughbred who proved his skills for winning all his races with flying colors. However, with the controversy surrounding him this time, there’s still no clear status for his qualification in the Belmont Stakes. His racing status all depends on how his trainer will handle the situation and the commission’s decision on the alleged rule violation. In just a few days, we’ll see what will happen to one of the Belmont Stakes top contenders.