Charge It | Horse Racing Free Tips

APB: Charge It ‘Ready for a Big 4yo Campaign’

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack tracks down top horses on the sidelines.

Whisper Hill Farm homebred and 'TDN Rising Star' Charge It (c, 3, Tapit–I'll Take Charge, by Indian Charlie), off since posting a jaw-dropping, 23-length victory in the GIII Dwyer S. at Belmont Park July 2, is gearing up for a 4-year-old campaign.

Forced to miss intended second-half targets in the GI Runhappy Travers S. and GI Pennsylvania Derby with a foot issue, Charge It has since posted a trio of breezes this winter at Whisper Hill's training center in Ocala, Florida. The gray rejoined trainer Todd Pletcher's Palm Beach Downs string Dec. 20.

“With the time, he's filled out so much,” said Todd Quast, advisor to Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm. “He was always a big, beautiful horse, but he just blossomed with a little break and a little time in the sun down here. I think we're ready for a really big 4-year-old campaign.”

Quast continued, “We're not trying to pick a race or have it mapped out yet. We'll let him tell us. Originally, we had hoped to get to a race in late December, so I don't think we'd be ready for the [GI] Pegasus [World Cup Jan. 28]. He's an exceptional horse, he's shown that already. Todd is gonna start breezing him and make sure that he sees the same thing that I'm seeing because he's just awesome right now.”

A no-brainer 'Rising Star' at second asking at Gulfstream Feb. 12, Charge It was a green but very good second while making his two-turn debut in the GI Curlin Florida Derby Apr. 2. He put behind a troubled 17th in the GI Kentucky Derby with his aforementioned romp in the Dwyer, good for a 111 Beyer Speed Figure.

Only Epicenter (Not This Time) and Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) scored higher on the Beyer scale among sophomores in 2022, co-topping the 3-year-old leaderboard with 112 ratings in the Travers and GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile S., respectively.

“To win that race by 23 lengths and to be even thinking about the Secretariat pole–that was a crazy race,” Quast said. “We were very excited as was everybody else. It was just a little foot thing that kept us from going on. Kudos to Todd and his team for not pushing him. We did right by him and I think he's ready to have a really good year. We're super happy with him.”

Charge It was produced by the winning mare I'll Take Charge, a $2.2-million KEESEP yearling purchase by Pope's operation. The 10-year-old is a daughter of bluehen mare Take Charge Lady (Dehere), who is responsible for champion Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song), GISW Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy), GISW 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).

Charge It is one of 50 'Rising Stars' by perennial leading sire Tapit. The Tapit over Indian Charlie cross is also responsible for 2022 slam dunk Horse of the Year Flightline.

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Charge It Out of Travers; Nest Exits Alabama in Good Order

There was both positive and negative news coming out of the Todd Pletcher barn Sunday morning, as 'TDN Rising Star' Charge It (Tapit) will be forced to miss next Saturday's GI Runhappy Travers S., but GI Alabama S. romper Nest (Curlin) was in fine fettle after her Saturday romp.

Whisper Hill homebred Charge It, a jaw-dropping 23-length winner of the GIII Dwyer S. at Belmont July 2, missed a scheduled breeze Saturday morning due to a front right foot abscess and galloped Sunday morning.

“He galloped super, but you could tell jogging back he was a little bit tender on it,” Pletcher said. “It's one of those things where if we didn't need to breeze again, we might be able to get it healed up before the race, but needing to get another work into him, it's just unfortunate timing.”

Charge It could resurface in the Sept. 24 GI Pennsylvania Derby.

“That's our next possible target, but the foot is going to dictate when he's going to be ready to breeze again,” Pletcher said.

Nest, meanwhile, was no worse for wear after her 4 1/4-length likely Eclipse-cinching Alabama tally.

“I thought [the Alabama] was more impressive watching the replay because watching it live, I couldn't fully appreciate how quickly she accelerated off the turn there,” Pletcher said. “I was impressed watching it live and even more so watching the replay. Especially the start.”

Despite some clamoring for her to take on males, Nest–who previously took the July 23 GI Coaching Club American Oaks after seconds in the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Belmont S., will likely stick to races for females for the time being. Pletcher said she could train up to the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 5, or possibly run in the GI Cotillion S. Sept. 24 or GII Beldame S. or GI Juddmonte Spinster S. Oct. 9.

“I think we just stay against our own gender for right now,” Pletcher said. “Things can change in this game. If there's a few defections along the way, who knows? But for right now, I think we're focused about running against fillies.”

Pletcher also trains Alabama third finisher Goddess of Fire (Mineshaft), who is likely for Parx's Cotillion.

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Heavy Hitters Work in Preparation for Runhappy Travers Card

A host of probable starters for the GI Runhappy Travers S. at Saratoga recorded works at the Spa Saturday as they each turn their attention to the 1 1/4-mile historic test for sophomores Aug. 27.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher watched runaway GIII Dwyer S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Charge It (Tapit) soar through an “awesome” five-furlong breeze over the main track, completing the solo exercise in 1:01.01 (5/27).

“Super work. Loved the way he did it, moving great and galloped out really strongly on a track that's not real fast,” said Pletcher.

“I don't think he's going to win by 23,” said Pletcher, with a laugh. “[But] I think he's very confident and he's doing well. Mentally, he's made big strides, so he's a horse that I think has continued to develop and get better and better. This morning's work was another indication of that.”

Also on the tab for Pletcher was GI Alabama S. probable Nest (Curlin), who Pletcher had considered for the Travers but ultimately said the Alabama Aug. 20 is the more likely target. The dual Grade I winner and GI Belmont S. runner-up breezed a half-mile in :50.60 (71/86) in company with Saratoga debut maiden winner Up to the Mark (Not This Time) (:50.02; 53/86).

“I thought she did very well. [She] went a little bit easy the first part and picked it up at the finish and galloped out really well,” said Pletcher. “She seems to be holding her form. We did talk about it [the Travers], but we just felt like as long as she was ready to run back in the Alabama, a mile and a quarter was perfect for her. We felt like it was too good of a spot to pass up.”

Chad Brown breezed several Runhappy Travers Day hopefuls over the main track Saturday led by GISW Zandon (Upstart), who covered a half-mile in :49.77 (44/86), while GI Preakness S. winner Early Voting (Gun Runner) drilled a half-mile in :49.78 (47/86) in company with GII Amsterdam S. runner-up Accretive (Practical Joke), who is targeting the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial. Runhappy Travers contender and Curlin S. winner 'TDN Rising Star' Artorius went an easy solo half-mile in :50.09 (56/86).

“It went great. They all worked good. Zandon went first and he went a half of a mile in :49 and change, out in 1:01 and change. He looked really good,” Brown said. “Early Voting went a half of a mile outside of Accretive, who will run in the H. Allen Jerkens. They went excellent. I thought Early Voting was really moving over the track today. He is very much in consideration for the Travers after this work today.”

Brown also breezed GISW and Haskell third 'TDN Rising Star' Jack Christopher (Munnings) five-eighths in 1:00.80 (3/27) in company to the outside of allowance-winning 3-year-old colt Key Point (Into Mischief). He is targeting the seven-furlong GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on the Runhappy Travers undercard.

“Jack Christopher really picked it up this week. I was very pleased with that because he worked a little slow last week with some traffic and stuff,” Brown said. “That kind of got botched a little bit. So, he needed to do a stronger piece of work today and I thought we went super.”

The Iowa-bred Travers hopeful Ain't Life Grand (Not This Time) had his first work on Saturday over the Saratoga main track since arriving from Prairie Meadows. The Iowa Derby winner coasted through a half-mile in :48.23 (13/86).

“He's settled in and doing really good. He worked good this morning, so, so far so good,” said trainer Kelly Von Hemel. “I'm not there, but everybody that was there was happy with the work. It was a solid time and everything was good.”

Cyberknife (Gun Runner), a narrow winner of the GI TVG.com Haskell S., worked five-eighths in 1:01.05 (8/27) over the main track Saturday in company with the 4-year-old Supremacy (Constitution) (1:01.90) for trainer Brad Cox.

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Charge It And Nest Breeze For Upcoming Engagements

Whisper Hill Farm homebred Charge It (Tapit) took another step forward for the GI Runhappy Travers S. with a half-mile breeze Friday at Saratoga. He was clocked in :48.77 for his second drill since a 23-length win in the GIII Dwyer S. July 2 at Belmont for trainer Todd Pletcher.

“He went really well, five-eighths by himself in 1:01 and change. He had a super strong gallop out, pulled up the mile in 1:42,” Pletcher said. “Essentially, we're trying to follow the same program we did leading up to the Dwyer and he seems to be doing everything the right way.”

Later, Pletcher sent Nest (Curlin) to work in company with champion Malathaat (Curlin) for a half-mile breeze. Working on the outside, Nest went in :49.78 seconds in her first breeze since taking the GI Coaching Club American Oaks July 23. She is on target for the GI Alabama S. Aug. 20 at Saratoga, but Pletcher said the filly is still possible for the Travers.

“She worked well this morning and we're targeting the Alabama at the moment,” Pletcher said. “We haven't ruled anything out ye,t but right now we're leaning towards the Alabama.”

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