Hill 'n' Dale Farms secure breeding rights to Arkansas Derby winner Charlatan

Hill 'n' Dale Farms has secured the breeding rights to undefeated Grade 1 winner Charlatan, who won the first division of the Arkansas Derby last weekend at Oaklawn Park, bringing his record to three for three. The farm announced the purchase on Wednesday.

"Horses with Charlatan's immense ability, combined with superior pedigree, conformation, depth of female family, and star-quality appeal are a very rare commodity," said Hill 'n' Dale president John Sikura.

Charlatan, who is owned by a partnership that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, and Stonestreet Stables, has captured the public's imagination, with trainer Bob Baffert and others comparing him to Triple Crown winner Justify.

Prior to his gate-to-wire victory in the Arkansas Derby, the colt debuted in February at Santa Anita Park, where he wired a field of four by five and three-quarter lengths. He then romped in a one-mile allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita in March, going gate-to-wire and winning by ten and a quarter lengths.

"This horse is effortless and gets over the ground so easily," Baffert said. "He is just exceptionally fast and does it without asking. That's what the great ones do. To ship him to win a Grade 1 in his third start shows you what I think of him. When you see him in person, you say, 'Wow.'"

A son of Speightstown, Charlatan is out of the multiple Graded stakes-winning Quiet American mare Authenticity, who won or placed in 11 of 12 starts. She was third in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Distaff and second in three other Grade 1s.

"I love Gone West [the sire of Speightstown] as a pre-potent sire influence, and both Quiet American and Deputy Minister [his first two broodmare sires] are foundation influences," Sikura said.

"Charlatan's raw talent and athleticism enable him to carry his brilliant speed around two turns with ease. The SF Racing model continues to produce Classic horses, and what a great thing that is for our game.

"Their whole team is to be commended for unprecedented results at the highest levels of racing. I look forward to watching Charlatan build upon his impressive résumé under the management and guidance of their team until his retirement to Hill 'n' Dale."

"We were delighted to do the breeding rights deal with Hill 'n' Dale," said Tom Ryan of SF Bloodstock. "They have launched and managed the careers of several breed-shaping sires. Johnny's record speaks for itself. Charlatan will be given every chance at stud, given their track record of standing and developing elite stallions."

Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Charlatan was sold by Denali Stud at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $700,000 to the partnership that includes Fred Hertrich III, John Fielding and Golconda Stables.

"He's one of the best physical horses we've ever bred," Stonestreet Farm bloodstock adviser John Moynihan said. "What sets him apart is the way he moves. He moves like a great horse. He is just a real athlete.

"He is the epitome of what we've tried to breed up to this point. Charlatan is a perfect combination of the genes meeting the physical. He is an absolute standout."

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