No one could defeat him in four starts between Del Mar and Santa Anita.

When he won in the Southland, he usually did so in style. Owned by Hal Earnhardt III and John Gaines (the man who invented the Breeders' Cup), and trained by Bob Baffert, he was flashy in the stretch, and that trait and propensity for winning helped him become the top three-year-old in the area.

He only made one more start after his Southern California tenure, which saw his winning streak fall. But a brief racing career made way for success as a stallion.

Hailing from the In Excess line, Indian Charlie introduced himself to fans at Del Mar in the summer of 1997. Tasked with going five and one-half furlongs, the bay colt engaged with Yukon Ridge before getting the better of his rival to win in a romp as the favorite.

Moving on to Santa Anita for the annual winter/spring meeting, Indian Charlie resumed his early form in a pair of allowance races. Though he took on small fields in both outings, fans envisioned him conquering rivals like he did by the beach. He justified the support both times.

Bet down to odds-on in his Santa Anita debut, Indian Charlie was in a class of his own going seven furlongs. In contention early, he took over to win by daylight on the main oval. Next came his first try at routing, and he had no problem navigating a mile as he again tracked the pace and won by a clear margin.

Next came Indian Charlie's major test, the Grade I Santa Anita Derby. Doing battle with six rivals, Indian Charlie broke well from the rail as he settled into second. He spent much of the race following Orville and Wilbur's around Santa Anita, but Indian Charlie was ready for his stakes debut. He grabbed the lead before the top of the stretch, and that was it for the 1998 Santa Anita Derby. Indian Charlie kept his perfect record intact as he led stablemate Real Quiet home to become California's top hope for the Kentucky Derby.

He did so in impressive fashion, too. Coming home in 1:47, Indian Charlie equaled the fastest time ever recorded in the Santa Anita Derby. Lucky Debonair set the standard in 1965, followed by Sham in 1973. Lucky Debonair won the Kentucky Derby, and Sham took second to Secretariat. Was that an omen Indian Charlie would run well in Louisville?

The consensus was he would on Derby Day. Favored to outlast everyone at the mile and one-quarter distance, Indian Charlie and Stevens were within striking distance of leader Old Trieste as they traversed around Churchill Downs. Still in contention nearing the final stretch, they received a surprise on the outside in the form of Real Quiet, who was running a big race. Real Quiet seized the lead, but Indian Charlie battled back in the stretch. But Real Quiet avenged his defeat in the Santa Anita Derby while Indian Charlie took third after being overhauled late by Victory Gallop. Despite missing out on the trophy, Indian Charlie ran a fine third as he added another top three finish to his record.

But that is where the record stood. Indian Charlie never raced again, but he was destined to be part of the sport for years to come. Moving into life as a stallion, Indian Charlie went on to become a success at stud. Bwana Charlie and Two Trail Sioux turned into Grade II winners; Indian Blessing was a Grade I winner and earned Eclipse Awards for Champion-Two-Year-Old Filly in 2007 and Female Sprinter in 2008. She also found victory in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint; Liaison won stakes at the Grade I and Grade II levels, as did A.P. Indian; and Uncle Mo became 2010's Champion Juvenile while winning Grade I contests. Like his father, Uncle Mo has become a sire of note, fathering the 2015 Champion Juvenile and 2016 Kentucky Derby champion Nyquist along with 2021 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Golden Pal, among others. And Indian Charlie is the damsire of 2021 Grade I Pennsylvania Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie, one of the 2021 season's principal three-year-old horses.

Indian Charlie passed away in 2011, but he continues to be a part of racing thanks to his stallion career. Just as he did in his career, Nyquist spent time competing in Southern California, as did Liaison. That also goes for Mo Forza, who became a multiple graded stakes winner in California.

Though he only spent a few months in Southern California, Indian Charlie found a way to maintain a presence at his one-time home base by way of his stud career. Talented both on the track and in the breeding shed, he was simply meant to be part of the circuit. And given how his offspring and grandchildren have fared out here, his influence will remain here for a long time.