Tag: Charge It

Charge It Bounces Back in Suburban

Whisper Hill Farm homebred and 'TDN Rising Star' Charge It (c, 4, Tapit–I'll Take Charge, by Indian Charlie) got his season back on track with a dominating performance in Saturday's GII Suburban S. at Belmont Park.

The 3-5 favorite, a 23-length winner in last term's GIII Dwyer S. over the same surface, was kept out in the clear by Johnny Velazquez and took over following an opening quarter in :24.49. Still racing several paths off the rail down the backstretch, the gray took the field of five into the far turn in complete control and never had an anxious moment in the stretch, reporting home a 4 3/4-length winner over Clapton (Brethren). Unbridled Bomber (Upstart) was third.

A green but very good second in last year's GI Curlin Florida Derby while making just his third career start, Charge It finished a forgettable 17th in the GI Kentucky Derby prior to his aforementioned tour-de-force victory in Elmont last July. Charge It was forced to miss intended 2022 second-half targets in the GI Runhappy Travers S. and GI Pennsylvania Derby with a foot issue (TDN APBs).

He finally resurfaced with an optional claiming win at Gulfstream Feb. 5, but failed to find the winner's circle in his next three attempts. Second as the chalk in the GII WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile S. Mar. 4, Charge It was fifth as the favorite with blinkers added in the GII Oaklawn H. Apr. 22 and fourth on the turnback to a one-turn mile in the prestigious GI Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan H. last time June 10.

“He broke a little bit awkwardly but recovered and put himself in a good spot,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He was in cruise control throughout. [John Velazquez] left him off the rail a little bit to keep him relaxed, but he was traveling so well and it was coming pretty easily to him, you don't want to take that away.”

Regarding a potential next start in the GI Whitney S. at Saratoga Aug. 5, Pletcher added, “The spacing is pretty good if we want to consider the Whitney, which is obviously going to be a more difficult assignment, but he's always been a horse that's impressed us as a top-class horse. Maybe he's starting to put it all together.”

Pedigree Notes:

Charge It is one of 102 graded winners for leading sire Tapit. The Tapit over Indian Charlie cross is also responsible for last year's brilliant Horse of the Year Flightline.

Charge It was produced by the winning mare I'll Take Charge, a $2.2-million KEESEP yearling purchase by Mandy Pope's operation. The 11-year-old is a daughter of blue-hen mare Take Charge Lady (Dehere), who is responsible for champion Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song), GISW Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy), MGSW & GISP As Time Goes By (American Pharoah); and Charming (Seeking the Gold), the dam of champion Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway) and MGISW Omaha Beach (War Front). I'll Take Charge produced a colt by Into Mischief in 2022 and a filly by Tapit this year.

Saturday, Belmont
SUBURBAN S.-GII, $339,500, Belmont, 7-8, 4yo/up, 1 1/4m, 2:01.31, ft.
1–CHARGE IT, 120, c, 4, by Tapit
               1st Dam: I'll Take Charge, by Indian Charlie
               2nd Dam: Take Charge Lady, by Dehere
               3rd Dam: Felicita, by Rubiano
O/B-Whisper Hill Farm, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-John
Velazquez. $192,500. 'TDN Rising Star' Lifetime Record:
GISP, 10-4-3-0, $717,600. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Clapton, 120, c, 4, Brethren–Alexandra Rylee, by Afleet
Alex. O-/B-Arindel (FL); T-Juan Alvarado. $70,000.
3–Unbridled Bomber, 118, c, 4, Upstart–Unbridledexplosion,
by Eddington. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($35,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Edward C. Potash, Brad
Yankanich, and James T. Ryerson; B-Unbridled
Explosion, LLC (KY); T-James T. Ryerson. $42,000.
Margins: 4 3/4, 4, NK. Odds: 0.65, 11.80, 6.70.
Also Ran: Red Run, Tonal Impact.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Saturday Preview: Charge It Gets Blinkers On For Oaklawn ‘Cap

He is the most talented horse–pound for pound–in a field of seven that was drawn earlier this week, but Whisper Hill Farm's 'TDN Rising Star' Charge It (Tapit) nevertheless has a fair bit to prove as the 8-5 morning-line favorite in Saturday's $1-million GII Oaklawn H. in Hot Springs.

The 23-length winner of last year's GIII Dwyer S., the homebred returned with a stylish Gulfstream allowance victory first off a seven-month absence Feb. 5, but exits a disappointing runner-up effort in the GII Gulfstream Park Mile Mar. 4. The blinkers go on for this return to nine panels.

“He's always been a little bit of a curious colt,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, a two-time winner of the race. “We contemplated putting blinkers on him after [finishing second in] the Florida Derby last year. We just didn't think doing in the Kentucky Derby was the right move and then came back and won the Dwyer so impressively. It's hard to make a change off that, but it's something that's been in the back of our mind. We've worked him with them since his last race and I think they may make a difference.”

Not since Gay Revoke in 1964 and 1965 has a horse gone back-to-back in the Handicap, but Last Samurai (Malibu Moon) has a shot to put pay to that streak Saturday. If anything, the 5-year-old is in even better form this time around, having bested next-out, big-figure GII New Orleans Classic romper West Will Power (Bernardini) and subsequent SW Law Professor in the GIII Razorback H. Feb. 18 before reeling in Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway) last time in the GIII Essex H.

“We've gone from winning the Essex to probably fourth choice in the Handicap,” said Hall of Famer Wayne Lukas, who took over the training of Last Samurai from Dallas Stewart after last year's race and registered the most recent of his record four wins in the race with Willis Horton's Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song) nine years ago. His first? Imp Society in 1985.

“It's a very, very tough race. But for a million dollars, it should be,” Lukas said.

Were Stilleto Boy (Shackleford) to emerge victorious Saturday, he would become the first horse since Best Pal in 1992 to complete the GI Santa Anita H./Oaklawn H. double. In addition to the presumable market leaders, he'll also need to hold off Godolphin's Proxy (Tapit), who came with a stinging late rally at the Great Race Place six weeks ago only to fall a neck short.

'Skippy' Looking Like A Million Bucks for Ben Ali

Handicap horses also head to the post at Keeneland for the GIII Ben Ali (ally as in friend, not the late pugilist) S., lengthened to a mile and three-sixteenths for the first time. The hard-knocking Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) looms a warm favorite and would surge past the $1-million mark in career earnings if adding this to his latest comprehensive score in the GIII Challenger S. at Tampa Mar. 11.

“He came out of the Challenger well and gave us the confidence to put him in here,” said Beau Chapman, assistant to trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. “He has improved with age. He is a big, lanky horse and he has grown into himself and really developed.”

Keeneland also stages the GIII Elkhorn S. for male marathon turfers and attracts last year's one-two finishers, 9-year-old Channel Maker (English Channel) and 7-year-old Another Mystery (Temple City), who between them have made 84 career starts for 17 trips to the winner's circle.

In California, Big 'Cap third Defunded (Dialed In) squares off with 2021 winner Royal Ship (Brz) (Midshipman) in the GII Californian S., while top Cal-bred Brickyard Ride (Clubhouse Ride) takes on the progressive Anarchist (Distorted Humor) in the GIII Kona Gold S.

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Charge It Wins Easily In Return To The Races

8th-Gulfstream, $74,400, Alw (C)/Opt. Clm ($62,500), 2-5, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:41.96, gd, 1 1/2 lengths.
CHARGE IT (c, 4, Tapit–I'll Take Charge, by Indian Charlie), a 'TDN Rising Star' not seen since his 23-length romp in the GIII Dwyer S. at Belmont last July, was hammered into 1-5 favoritism for his return to the races Sunday. Eased out of the gate, he found himself four wide into the clubhouse turn before taking back to race fourth in the top flight. Led through the half by Laughing Boy (Distorted Humor), the grey began to inch up on the front pair up the backstretch under a motionless Luis Saez. Two wide for the lead as the field spun for home, Charge It easily cleared off and, under minimal urging, cruised home to defeat Vittorio (Ghostzapper) by 1 1/2 lengths. Out of a daughter of prolific broodmare Take Charge Lady, I'll Take Charge is a half-sister to champion 3-year-old colt Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song), GISW Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy), GISW As Time Goes By (American Pharoah), and to the dam of champion 2-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway) and MGISW Omaha Beach (War Front). Charge It has a yearling half-brother by Into Mischief while I'll Take Charge returned to leading sire Tapit for a full-sibling in 2023. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 6-3-2-0, $411,700. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O/B-Whisper Hill Farm, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.

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February 5 Insights: Charge It Makes Seasonal Bow in Florida

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

6th-GP, $84k, Msw, 3yo, f, 1mT, 2:37p.m. ET
Richard Schermerhorn's $390,000 OBSAPR purchase LADY BETH (Hard Spun) will be unveiled on what looks like a very active Sunday of racing across the country. Drawn toward the middle in this Gulfstream maiden, she is the first registered foal for her dam, the Werthemier et Frere-bred and West Point-campaigned Boreale (Makfi {GB}); four times stakes-placed in her career in America as well as a multiple winner in France. This is the female family of MGSW Interactif (Broken Vow), GSP Stretching (Red Ransom), and the extended family of GSW Etonian (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), GISP Ocho Ocho Ocho, and MGSW Divine Oath (Broken Vow). Chad Brown sends her to post. To the inside is $320,000 KEESEP buy Le Beau (Mendelssohn), a half-sister to GSP Burn the Mortgage (Kitten's Joy) and three other multiple winners including that one's full-sister, SW Lien on Kitten. Christophe Clement trains the grey for Hoolie Racing Stable. TJCIS PPs

1st-SA, $67k, Msw, 3yo, f, 6 1/2f, 3:30p.m. ET
Bob Baffert and owners Baoma Corp team up once again with an $825,000 KEESEP procurement named CONQUISTAR (Quality Road). Coming into this contest on the back of a blowout bullet work Feb. 1 when she clicked through three furlongs in :35.20 in company, the bay is out of GSP My Miss Chiff (Into Mischief), herself hailing from a three-generation line of Louisiana Champions Day Ladies S./ Ladies Sprint S. winners or placers. The dam is a half-sister to Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies victress Silvercents (Goldencents). Not unexpectedly, the morning line has Conquistar tabbed as the 6-5 favorite. TJCIS PPs

8th-GP, $62k, AOC, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m, 3:37p.m. ET
The eighth contest on the Gulfstream card marks the return of GIII Dwyer S. winner CHARGE IT (Tapit), who ran off the screen in the aforementioned contest with his best impression of the hallowed Red Horse in New York. Gone since that 23-length romp, he's been on the work tab religiously in January for Todd Pletcher–posting a bullet five furlongs two works back at Palm Beach when going 1:00.59 in company with GISP Emmanuel (More Than Ready)–and will make his first start at 1 1/16-miles in this allowance optional claimer. TJCIS PPs

9th-GP, $84k, Msw, 3yo, f, 1mT, 4:06p.m. ET
The day for the greys continues as C R K Stable unveils their $800,000 FTSAUG daughter of Tapit, SILVER STRIPES. Out of Madame Stripes (Arg) (Equal Stripes {Arg})–Group 1-stakes placed in her native Argentina but also a Graded-stakes winner and Grade I-stakes placed in America–the Cherie DeVaux trainee lays claim to an Argentinean family rich with Group 1 runners, including her dam's full-sibling, MG1SP Equal Councellor (Arg). This is also the family of G1SW Cagnotte (Arg) (Sunray Spirit); Argentinean champion 3-year-old filly, MGISP-US Campagnarde (Arg) (Oak Dancer {GB}); GSW Rize (Theatrical {Ire}); and MGSP Calvados (Arg) (Snipewalk). The Repole stable will send out that filly's neighbor Nonna's Tiramisu (Medaglia d'Oro), a homebred half-sister to GISW Outwork (Uncle Mo), who also raced in their shared breeder's colors. Her dam is a 3/4 sister to Cairo Prince (Pioneerof the Nile). Todd Pletcher looks to cap what could be a big day in Florida, here. TJCIS PPs

6th-FG, $50k, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 4:45p.m. ET
Stonestreet homebred DREAMBOAT (Uncle Mo) will make his debut in this baby dash over the main track for Steve Asmussen. Out of GSP Supreme, the colt claims Claiborne stallion, GISW Silver State (Hard Spun) as his half-brother. Second dam Mon Belle (Maria's Mon) is the full-sister to Monarchos. John Oxley's $110,000 KEESEP grad Classic Dancer (Collected) will also make his first start here. The Mark Casse trainee is a half-brother to 2021 Queen's Plate winner Safe Conduct (Bodemeister), their dam herself a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year and champion sprinter Fatal Bullet (Red Bullet). TJCIS PPs

8th-OP, $105k, Alw, 4yo/up, 6f, 5:10p.m. ET
Drawn on the rail and rolling in with a three-strong string of bullet works at the Fair Grounds, COGBURN (Not This Time) returns to the races for the first time since his gutsy runner-up effort last May in Pimlico's GIII Chick Lang S. He'll face a salty group of runners including the returning MyRacehorse colt Chasing Time (Not This Time). TJCIS PPs

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