Gilded Bandit Out-Duels Deep Flame To 'Rising Stardom' In Battle Of Second-Time Starters

Triple Crown-nominated Gilded Bandit (Charlatan) out-dueled fellow second-time starter Deep Flame (Into Mischief) to a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'-worthy win at Keeneland Saturday for Pin Oak Stud and trainer Bill Mott.

Racing with the blinkers added off a 'better than it looked' fourth-place run at Gulfstream Feb. 28 (highlighted here by the TDN's Steve Sherack in his 'Second Chances' series), the 3-1 shot had to sit towards the back of the field while main rival, 6-5 favorite Deep Flame was up on a battle for the lead through the opening furlongs.

By the time the field crossed into the far turn, jockey Junior Alvarado had guided Gilded Bandit closer to the front where he stalked that pair of leaders before shifting out to engage the now solo Deep Flame.

Moving between runners at the quarter pole, Gilded Bandit still had work to do but kept grinding down the outside as the top pair easily opened up several lengths back to the rest of the field.

In a throwdown the wire, the son of Charlatan just prevailed in the final strides while Deep Flame, who ran second to Friday's Lafayette Stakes winner Trouble Calling (Dialed In) in his own debut Feb. 14, was again relegated to the runner-up slot.

Gilded Bandit, a $550,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad, is the first 'TDN Rising Star' for second-crop stallion Charlatan who earned the moniker himself in his Santa Anita debut in early 2020.

First dam Diamond Ore, who ran third in Aqueduct's Busanda Stakes, sold to Clearsky Farms and Rac 04 Racing for $750,000 out of the Keeneland November Sale in 2018. A daughter of Bubbler, the mare is a half-sister to none other than Eclipse-winning 3-year-old, MGISW and late sire Arrogate (Unbridled's Song).

After failing to meet her reserve at back-to-back renditions of the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in 2021 and 2022 for $825,000 and $745,000 respectively, Diamond Ore has produced a 2-yaer-old Life Is Good filly and a yearling colt by Nyquist. She is due this season to leading general sire Into Mischief.

2nd-Keeneland, $110,000, Msw, 4-4, 3yo, 6 1/2f, 1:16.44, ft, 1/2 length.
GILDED BANDIT, c, 3, Charlatan
            1st Dam: Diamond Ore {SP}, by Tapit
            2nd Dam: Bubbler, by Distorted Humor
            3rd Dam: Grechelle, by Deputy Minister
Sales History: $550,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $67,510. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Pin Oak Stud LLC; B-Taylor Made Stallions Inc., Brunacini Stables, Clearview Stable LLC, et al (KY); T-William I. Mott.

GILDED BANDIT ($8.32) had to work for it in the 2nd at @keenelandracing! The Charlatan colt battled with a game Deep Flame all the way home. Bill Mott conditions for owner @PinOakStud. @JuniorandKellyA was up!

Bet the next: https://t.co/XjcuFHFoEq pic.twitter.com/aOkI9xRcJd

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 4, 2026