Report: Bob Baffert-trained Charlatan to miss Belmont and Kentucky Derby with injury

Bob Baffert’s stable of talented 3-year-olds took another hit Saturday.

The Paulick Report reported undefeated Arkansas Derby winner Charlatan has a minor ankle injury and will miss both the June 20 Belmont and Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby.

“He's got a filling in a front ankle,” Baffert told the Paulick Report. “They (veterinarians) found something there, and we’ll probably have it taken out (surgically).”

Baffert said the injury is minor, “not even a flake, but we’ve got to stop on him. He'll be out 45 days.” The trainer said the Preakness – now the final leg of the Triple Crown on Oct. 3 – could be possible for Charlatan.

Charlatan, a son of Speightstown, was 3 for 3 after winning Division One of the Arkansas Derby on May 2. On May 26, it was reported Charlatan was one of two Baffert-trained horses that tested positive for banned substances during the recent meet at Oaklawn Park.

Trainers retain the right to have a “split” sample tested by an independent lab before an initial finding is confirmed. Results of Charlatan’s split sample have not yet been made public.

More racing news:Honor A.P. turns tables on Authentic to win Santa Anita Derby

Saturday’s news was another blow for Baffert, the two-time Triple Crown champion and five-time Kentucky Derby winner. On May 28, unbeaten Nadal – the Division Two winner of the Arkansas Derby – was retired to stud after a condylar fracture was found in his left front leg.

Baffert has at least two other top 3-year-olds in Authentic and Cezanne. Authentic was the runner-up to Honor A.P. in Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby. Cezanne made his racing debut Saturday, winning a maiden special weight at Santa Anita by 2 ¼ lengths.

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @KentuckyDerbyCJ. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/jasonf.