Full Charge is 12-1 in the Indiana Derby's morning and comes into the 1 1/16-mile stakes off victory in a 1 3/16-mile maiden race. But owner-breeder Calumet Farm in the Brad Kelley era has no problem taking a shot at big races and doesn't get caught up in the horses' odds. Indeed, several notable Calumet upsets have been the 2021 Wood Memorial with Bourbon winning at a whopping 72-1 odds, 2020 Personal Ensign with 9-1 Vexatious over champion Midnight Bisou and the 2018 Pat Day Mile with 39-1 Funny Duck.
“It's a big step up in class,” said Jack Sisterson, private trainer for Calumet, though the farm uses other public trainers as well. “It is a short field. It's that time of the year where if your horse is doing well, which he is, you've got to take the opportunities where they come with these big 3-year-old races.”
Full Charge, also by Will Take Charge, has improved dramatically with each of his four starts.
“He's a 3-year-old who has improved with each start we've had him,” Sisterson said. “He was a lovely 2-year-old, just sort of immature and needed to grow into his frame. Thanks to Calumet for allowing me to back off him as a 2-year-old.
“We got him started down at Gulfstream going three-quarters of a mile. He finished last, but when he hit the wire, Corey (Lanerie) gave him a slap on the shoulder and he galloped out in front. We were optimistic that he'd move forward as we stretched him out, would put his best foot forward. And he hasn't disappointed us since, really. We'll let him tell us whether he's good enough or not.”
In his three maiden races in Kentucky, Full Charge finished third, then second, then won by five lengths at 1 3/16 miles at Churchill Downs.
“We don't win first time out,” Sisterson said. “We train to where the horse is going to improve with racing and hopefully not regress with racing. We like to have a two- or three-year good campaign with horses. He doesn't have a flashy way of going. He might come off the bridle at the three-eighths pole, but he's a grinding type that seems to get better as the distance gets farther for him. If we can hit the board with a homebred, it helps the mare and the progeny. I've got his 2-year-old brother. It's fun to see him progress in the direction he's going.”
Adam Beschizza, aboard for Full Charge's past three races, has the return mount.
“He's still a very young, unvarnished horse,” Beschizza said. “He's a horse where you have to squeeze the lemon on him the whole time. He's still very green and raw. If you saw his maiden win at Churchill, I had to get to working on him at the three-eighths. Once he gets the message, he seems to knuckle down, still very workmanlike. Mr. Kelley likes these big challenges, and he's never been too far wrong before with some of these maiden (winners). He'll take his chance.”
Full Charge “has had plenty of shots at the dart board now,” the jockey said.
“He's got plenty of experience,” Beschizza added. So, let's hope he's got it together and can take that next step forward. You've got to be in it to win it, and we'll take a chance. I think he'll run well, anyway.”
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