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.

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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.

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.