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Malibu Winner Charlatan Likely To Skip Pegasus, Aim For Saudi Cup

Charlatan, who returned to the races after an absence of eight months with a dominating 4 ½-length victory in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., on opening day Dec. 26, will likely make his next start in the world's richest race, the $20-million Saudi Cup at 1 1/8 miles in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 20, Bob Baffert said Sunday morning.

The winner receives $10 million.

Charlatan had his first workout Saturday since the Malibu, going four furlongs in 49.80.

The 4-year-old son of Speightstown was making his first start in the seven-furlong Malibu since crossing the wire on top in the first division of the G1 Arkansas Derby last May 2, only to later be disqualified on a medication violation that is under appeal.

The dazzling chestnut colt has reached the finish line ahead of his rivals by a combined margin of 26 1/2 lengths, an average of better than six lengths per race.

“That's the plan right now,” Baffert said of the Saudi Cup. “I've got another week to make up my mind, but he'd be coming back a little quick for the other race ($3-million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park Jan. 23) off a long layoff, and he ran so hard (in the Malibu), I worry about that.

“The thing I like about the Saudi race is it's a one-turn mile-and-an-eighth and Charlatan is so fast. It's a challenge, but it's $20 million.

“That's a lot of money.”

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Additional Invitees Listed For Pegasus World Cup, World Cup Turf

Gulfstream Park officials announced Sunday additional invitations to the $3-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and $1-million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), to be held Saturday, Jan. 23 at the Hallandale Beach, Fla., track.

Independence Hall, a 12 ¼-length winner of the Nashua (G2) at two and runner-up in the Sam F. Davis (G3) at three, and Coastal Defense, fourth Nov. 27 in the Clark (G1), have received invitations for the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup and have been added to the also-eligible list.

Moving into the main body of the Pegasus World Cup from the also-eligible list are Grade 1 winner Math Wizard and Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner King Guillermo.

Ride a Comet, an impressive winner Saturday of the Tropical Turf (G3), has been invited to the 1 3/16-mile Pegasus World Cup Turf and was placed on the also-eligible list. Moving into the main body of the Pegasus Turf is Next Shares and Field Pass.

Limited seating is available and tickets can be purchased at Pegasusworldcup.com.

Fans can watch and wager on the Pegasus World Cup at 1stbet.com and xpressbet.com.

Independence Hall, a 4-year-old son of Constitution, returned from an eight-month layoff to win under allowance conditions in November at Del Mar before finishing fifth Dec. 26 behind Charlatan in the Malibu (G1). Independence Hall is trained by Michael McCarthy, who trained 2019 Pegasus World Cup winner City of Light.

Dale Romans, who saddled Mr Freeze to a second-place finish last year behind Mucho Gusto in the Pegasus World Cup, trains Coastal Defense. A 5-year-old son of Curlin, Coastal Defense was fourth in the Clark as well as the Oct. 10 Fayette (G2).

John Oxley and My Meadowview Farm LLC's Ride a Comet is undefeated in four starts since returning from a two-year layoff. The 6-year-old son of Candy Ride, trained by Mark Casse, also won the Kennedy Road (G2) in November at Woodbine.

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Fast Fashionably Set For Return In California Cup Sprint

Fashionably Fast, prepping for this Saturday's $150,000 Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint at six furlongs at Santa Anita, worked four furlongs this morning in 48.40 under regular rider Tiago Pereira at the Arcadia, Calif., track.

“He went fine,” trainer Dean Pederson said. “Hopefully, we're where we need to be. I had him in 47 and three or four, something like that. Times are irrelevant. It's not like we're deciding to run in a maiden 50 or a maiden 20. It will be a competitive race. You just have to hope for the best.

“He had run hard and just needed a little breather,” Pederson added, explaining the gelding's absence of five months since last Aug. 1 when he finished sixth of eight behind victorious Collusion Illusion in the Grade I Bing Crosby at Del Mar. “I have an owner who's very cooperative.”

Actually, Fashionably Fast has three owners: breeder John Harris, Per Antonsen and John Nicoletti, for whom Pederson has trained the last 20 or so years.

A 6-year-old chestnut son of Lucky Pulpit, Fashionably Fast has a 7-4-2 record from 18 starts with earnings of $490,245.

“Like I say, the horse has run hard for us, he ran his eyeballs out against McKinzie (second in the Grade 2 Triple Bend last June 7 to the four-time Grade I winner that was recently retired to stud at Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Ky.).”

Prior to the Triple Bend, Fashionably Fast had reeled off six straight victories, four of them in California-bred stakes.

“The Bing Crosby didn't unfold the way we thought it would and he was a tired horse,” Pederson said. “At that point we decided to give him a few months breather.

“Things have gone well since he came back and if we get beat, we'll have to get outrun. He's had several breezes; he hasn't missed a work.

“One thing about this horse: he doesn't owe anybody a dime.”

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‘In Best Shape Of His Life,’ 7-Year-Old New York-Bred Our Last Buck Scores Initial Stakes Win

Saturday's victory in the $100,000 Say Florida Sandy for Our Last Buck at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., rewarded the patience of trainer Michelle Nevin and owner J and N Stables, who saw the gelded son of Courageous Cat make his first stakes appearance in his 18th career start.

For besting a five-horse field of New York-breds 4-years-old and up by 3 3/4 lengths in his 7-year-old bow, Our Last Buck earned a personal-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure. The rallying score saw Aqueduct meet-leading rider Kendrick Carmouche pick off three rivals with a strong outside move when straightened for home in the seven-furlong sprint, outkicking 4-5 favorite and runner-up Funny Guy.

“I was very fortunate and excited and I'd just like to thank Michelle and Kendrick,” said owner Thomas Newkirk, who heads the Saratoga Springs-based J and N Stables. “Kendrick gave him a neat ride. It looked like at the head of the stretch that he could go inside or outside, and he chose correctly.”

The effort marked the first stakes victory for the ownership group, which started racing in 2012 and entered Saturday with a 9-8-10 record in 65 career starts. J and N Stables still owns a stake in Our Last Buck's dam Buck Mountain.

“We still own an interest in Buck Mountain, so we might have some more offspring coming and we're excited about that possibility,” Newkirk said.

Bred in the Empire State by Gerardus S. Jameson, Our Last Buck broke his maiden at second asking in November 2018 at the Big A under previous trainer George Weaver. After being transferred to Nevin's care in 2019, he enjoyed a career resurgence, winning five of his six career races since his 6-year-old campaign last year.

Our Last Buck, who won back-to-back races starting at Aqueduct on March 15 and then over Big Sandy during Belmont Park's spring/summer meet, is now on his second career winning streak, with his stakes effort following a 1 ½-length victory against allowance company on December 12 at the Big A.

“It takes a little bit of patience,” Newkirk said. “He had a couple of operations before and we gave him some time to heal. It's great now to see a 7-year-old do this. He's probably in the best shape of his life right now.”

Newkirk praised NYRA's New York-bred program for providing opportunities for the late-blooming Our Last Buck to reach his potential.

“It's a credit to NYRA that they have a 4-year-old up and classification for those older horses,” Newkirk said. “The New York-bred program is just awesome and I think it's the right thing to do for the owners and breeders in the state. Not everyone can go down to Florida, and I think the Aqueduct cards make it a great place to be.”

Newkirk said he's also excited for the impending 3-year-old debut of homebred Dancing Buck, who broke his maiden at second asking on New Year's Eve at the Big A. The War Dancer colt, who ran second in his debut on November 29 at the same track, could make his next start later in the winter meet.

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