The Weak and Confused: Charlatan Didn’t Win a Bloated Race in Saudi Arabia

[RolloTomasi]

The Week in Review: Charlatan Ran a Huge Race in Saudi Arabia

He did not win Saturday over in Saudi Arabia, but Charlatan proved that he is undoubtedly the best dirt horse in America. That's how well he ran in his one-length defeat to Mishriff (Ire) in the $20-million race.

That’s a pretty sorry statement when the "best dirt horse in America” isn’t the "best dirt horse in the world”.

It was by no means a surprise that Charlatan and Knicks Go got caught up in a speed duel. Both are talented horses with abundant early speed and jockeys Joel Rosario (Knicks Go) and Mike Smith (Charlatan) rode aggressively, perhaps because neither rider wanted to see their rival get off to an uncontested lead in what many assumed was a two-horse race.

So the "best dirt horse in America” failed to win a race that was essentially billed as match race between two American dirt horses.

Yes, his loss under those circumstances certainly confirmed a lot…

No official fractional times for the race are available, only a final time of 1:49.59 for the mile-and-an-eighth. But a hand timing of the race using video timing revealed that the six furlongs went in 1:10.7. Considering that there was no run up to the race, the six-furlong time would be more like 1:09 and change for a comparable race run in the U.S.

Wow! A 39-second final 3 furlongs…really cookin’.

That means that Charlatan dueled with Knicks Go through a very fast three-quarters, while Mishriff got the perfect trip, stalking the two leaders from third. And he did so on a track that may have been biased toward outside closers. Speed didn't hold up in any of the dirt races Saturday and all of the winners were well off the rail in the stretch.

Oh, yeah; perfect trip for Mishriff. Well in his comfort zone. He was no more than a length and a half behind the frontrunners until the 2 geniuses riding the 2 "best dirt horses in America” decided to go all in with nearly a 1/2-mile left to run.

And never mind about the fact that he’s a Euro-based turf horse who hadn’t started on the dirt in 12 months and hadn’t started in a race of any kind in 4 months.

Knicks Go, a very good horse, couldn't handle the pressure. He was done on the turn and wound up finishing fourth, beaten 8 1/2 lengths.

Interesting…he’s a “very good horse”, but he can’t handle pace pressure. Kind of limits the superlatives I would think.

By the way, I’m a great basketball player. I just can’t handle playing against people taller than 6’…

Not so for Charlatan. He was still battling Mishriff with 100 meters to go in the race and didn't let the other horse get by him until a few jumps before the wire. The pace was fast, Charlatan never got a breather and then he was caught by a horse who had a perfect trip while racing on the best part of the track.

Since when did they start handing out “breathers” in 9-furlong races?

But yeah, I’m impressed. He shrugged off a horse you already admitted can’t handle pace pressure (in a 2-horse race no less) and then kept to his task through a pedestrian final quarter while failing to hold off a turf horse making his first start of the year that stayed on his left lead and lugged in throughout…

This may have been his best race.

Well, when you consider that the horse’s maiden race is in the frame for his “best race” you have to wonder why you’re even writing a puff piece on this hyped-up sprinter.

“He ran a big race,” trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday morning. “He put away Knicks Go, just ran him down, turned in a gallant effort and it's too bad he got beat.

Ran him down? Did he watch the race?

That's a demanding track. The stretch is so long, and he ran hard.

I thought a one-turn 9-furlong race was supposed to play to his strengths…now it was an impediment?

It was an exciting race and I would have loved to have won it, but I was afraid of a speed duel between him and Knicks Go. They locked horns after a half-mile and really picked it up the second quarter. But the way he ran, it shows what a brilliant horse he is. He put away a really good horse.”

“Really good” or “very good”? Knicks Go has won 2 allowance races, a BC undercard race, and a fake money race after getting pummeled on a regular basis in his previous 2 campaigns. The Cinderella story may have just struck midnight, Carl...

Who knew that these supposedly great modern day horses are on such shaky foundation that 2 of them hooking up for less than a 1/4-mile in the middle of the race one time is enough to send both spiraling into the jaws of defeat.

Speaking of quarters...sorry for not giving you a little something extra for the effort. I don't have anything for you now...but when you die, you will receive total consciousness (and maybe you will stop believing your own bullish!t).

So you've got that going for you...which is nice.

Charlatan's Saudi Cup performance was reminiscent of the 1978 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, in which Seattle Slew lost after a heroic effort. He dueled with Affirmed and Life's Hope through fractions of 22.60, 45.20 and 1:09.40. The pace finished Affirmed, whose saddle slipped, and Life's Hope, but not Slew. Meanwhile, Exceller had a perfect off-the-pace trip, but Seattle Slew never gave up and lost by just a nose.

There is so much wrong with this that I don’t know where to start.

All I can say is that if Charlatan couldn’t hold off a turf horse after dueling with a confirmed pop-and-stopper in a one-turn dirt race, I shudder to think where he would have ended up in a 12-furlong race at Belmont in the slop with two Triple Crown winners and an international superhorse.

But let’s be honest, a horse like Charlatan trained by a trainer like Bob Baffert would never consider running in a such a race.

Oh…and by the way…since you obviously aren’t a fan of the sport or have any respect for past champions, invoking their greatness thoughtlessly to serve your sycophantic agenda , let me clue you in on something you forgot to mention (aside from the distance, the track condition, and the quality of the field) about that ’78 JCGC:

Seattle Slew was collared at the f’n 3/8s pole and then lost the lead to the tune of nearly a full length at the 1/8 pole…and he still powered back to lose by a f’n nose!

Suddenly I’m beginning to wonder if the word “Charlatan” shouldn’t refer to more than just the horse…

That's not to say that Charlatan is another Seattle Slew.

Huh? Were you actually going to entertain a comparison of a juvenile champion that remained undefeated through the Triple Crown (never mind his exploits as an older horse) to a horse that failed to start at 2 and missed the entire Triple Crown due to injury?

If so, that shipped sailed long ago…along with the vast majority of your brain cells…

He needs to do a lot more before he can be compared to one of the sport's all-time greats. But his effort in the Saudi Cup was nothing short of terrific.

That’s the irony you momo…he did come up short!

[Dunbar]

Thanks for the excellent read!

[Betsy]

Rollo, who wrote the original article? Privman ? I’m cracking up at your take!

I’m not a fan of Charlatan, and I was impressed by his gameness, but not every tough beat is reminiscent of Seattle Slew (my favorite horse ever, after Man o’War), lol. Nothing about this race is similar to the ‘78 Gold Cup - somehow this racing scribe managed to downplay Slew’s performance (“he never gave up” - what a bland description of his race - thank you for your colorful description, lol).

Charlatan is brilliant, but to say that he has a long way to go before being compared to Slew is putting it mildly.

[robfla]

Originally Posted by Betsy

Rollo, who wrote the original article? Privman ? I’m cracking up at your take!

I’m not a fan of Charlatan, and I was impressed by his gameness, but not every tough beat is reminiscent of Seattle Slew (my favorite horse ever, after Man o’War), lol. Nothing about this race is similar to the ‘78 Gold Cup - somehow this racing scribe managed to downplay Slew’s performance (“he never gave up” - what a bland description of his race - thank you for your colorful description, lol).

Charlatan is brilliant, but to say that he has a long way to go before being compared to Slew is putting it mildly.

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.co...-saudi-arabia/

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by robfla

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.co...-saudi-arabia/

Oh my god, I should have known...Privman is too good for this, but it’s just about right for Finley.

[freddymo]

Seattle Slew? I think Seattle Fitz is a better comparison seriously Slew? Have a heart

[freddymo]

The fact that someone pays Bill Finley to write that drivel is amazing

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Betsy

I’m not a fan of Charlatan, and I was impressed by his gameness, but not every tough beat is reminiscent of Seattle Slew (my favorite horse ever, after Man o’War), lol. Nothing about this race is similar to the ‘78 Gold Cup - somehow this racing scribe managed to downplay Slew’s performance (“he never gave up” - what a bland description of his race - thank you for your colorful description, lol).

I find it annoying that these hack turf writers simply dismiss Mishriff (IRE) as some nameless horse that got a "perfect trip". Wouldn't the sport and the public be better served by focusing on this relative newcomer to the American scene (you know, the winner), rather than re-hashing the same old dubious praise--even in defeat--on some horse that is always 50-50 to be making his final career start?

Mishriff (IRE)--unlike Charlatan--is actually a classic winner (French Derby) and has shown versatility on various types of ground. His pedigree is strong, hailing from one of the best present day sire lines in Europe outside of Galileo (Dubawi). The female family includes a French Oaks winner as the 3rd dam who dropped two major modern day stallions in Invincible Spirit and Kodiak.

Speaking of stallions, I wouldn't be shocked to learn that these hacks write these disingenuous pieces in order to lay the groundwork for the "chosen" horse's stud career. In that regard, you'd think they'd want to talk the horse up that dusted him so that Charlatan's defeat can be justified by more than simply "he had to face pace pressure".

Perhaps more importantly in the short-term, Mishriff (IRE) is actually being considered for the Dubai World Cup. Does anyone think that Charlatan (who is "playing it by ear") is going to be there?

[freddymo]

If they can get Charlatan back to the States and on a regimented Micro EPO program, could he make his final start in the Met Mile? You blow out a big 118 BSF and start working on his Stallion Adverts in July...Maybe something like this.Charlatan a better fraud for your money than Carpe Diem?

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by freddymo

If they can get Charlatan back to the States and on a regimented Micro EPO program, could he make his final start in the Met Mile? You blow out a big 118 BSF and start working on his Stallion Adverts in July...Maybe something like this.Charlatan a better fraud for your money than Carpe Diem?

If both Charlatan and Maxfield make it to the Met Mile, there may be a glimmer of hope for the sport.

I would even tolerate these turf writing hacks comparing such a match-up to the proposed Easy Goer-Sunday Silence race at Arlington in 1990 (so long as they both actually show up).

[moses]

lol...love reading your commentary.

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

I find it annoying that these hack turf writers simply dismiss Mishriff (IRE) as some nameless horse that got a "perfect trip". Wouldn't the sport and the public be better served by focusing on this relative newcomer to the American scene (you know, the winner), rather than re-hashing the same old dubious praise--even in defeat--on some horse that is always 50-50 to be making his final career start?

Mishriff (IRE)--unlike Charlatan--is actually a classic winner (French Derby) and has shown versatility on various types of ground. His pedigree is strong, hailing from one of the best present day sire lines in Europe outside of Galileo (Dubawi). The female family includes a French Oaks winner as the 3rd dam who dropped two major modern day stallions in Invincible Spirit and Kodiak.

Speaking of stallions, I wouldn't be shocked to learn that these hacks write these disingenuous pieces in order to lay the groundwork for the "chosen" horse's stud career. In that regard, you'd think they'd want to talk the horse up that dusted him so that Charlatan's defeat can be justified by more than simply "he had to face pace pressure".

Perhaps more importantly in the short-term, Mishriff (IRE) is actually being considered for the Dubai World Cup. Does anyone think that Charlatan (who is "playing it by ear") is going to be there?

Bill forgot that another horse won the race, lol. I agree with you, good points. Finley is the same guy that wrote a fake recap of the SA Derby (before the race) that had Authentic winning by 11; it was a love fest for the horse and BB - and he apparently removed it because he didn’t like the comments. He probably assumed Charlatan would win, and now he’s making excuses.