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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Tapit’s Charge It Dominates Dwyer

The lightly raced 'TDN Rising Star' Charge It (Tapit), a forgettable 17th with a nightmare trip in the GI Kentucky Derby, put it all together with a jaw-dropping victory in Saturday's GIII Dwyer S. at Belmont Park.

The rail-drawn 3-5 favorite–a green second while making his stakes debut at third asking in the GI Curlin Florida Derby Apr. 2– pressed Fluid Situation (Warrior's Reward) from second while racing in tight quarters along the fence here.

Hall of Famer Johnny Velazquez bulled his way into the clear after brushing with the tiring maiden winner and second choice Nabokov (Uncle Mo) at the five-eighths pole and the gray put on an absolute show from there. Charge It cruised to the front a quarter of a mile from home and was kept to task down the stretch to win by a devastating 23 lengths. Longshot Runninsonofagun (Gun Runner) was second; Fluid Situation was third.

“We always had a lot of confidence in this horse's ability,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We tried to correct the problem from the Derby [displaced palate], which we think we successfully did. Today, we saw the talent level that we'd been seeing from him.

Pletcher continued, “We drew the one-hole again [Life Is Good also had post one earlier on the card] and needed to come away and establish some position. We felt like that's where we would be and he would work his way into the clear, and it was pretty much game over from there.”

On potential next starts at Saratoga in the GII Jim Dandy S. July 30 and/or the GI Runhappy Travers S. Aug. 27, Pletcher added, “We were hoping for a good performance today that would put us in the position to look at the Jim Dandy or the Travers or both. It was a powerful effort today, so we're back on track to where we thought we were at Florida Derby time. It's all about him telling us what to do. Could we train up to the Travers from here? I don't think that's impossible either.”

Pedigree Notes:

Charge It becomes the 154th stakes winner/96th graded winner for leading sire Tapit. The Tapit over Indian Charlie cross is also represented by the sensational unbeaten GI Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan H. winner Flightline. Indian Charlie is now responsible for 89 stakes winners/29 graded winners as a broodmare sire.

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 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), 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 this year and was bred back to Tapit.

Saturday, Belmont Park
DWYER S.-GIII, $250,000, Belmont, 7-2, 3yo, 1m, 1:34.67, ft.
1–CHARGE IT, 118, c, 3, by Tapit
                1st Dam: I'll Take Charge, by Indian Charlie
                2nd Dam: Take Charge Lady, by Dehere
                3rd Dam: Felicita, by Rubiano
'TDN Rising Star' 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES
WIN. O/B-Whisper Hill Farm, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher;
J-John R. Velazquez. $137,500. Lifetime Record: GISP, 5-2-2-0,
$367,900. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
2–Runninsonofagun, 119, g, 3, Gun Runner–Golden Artemis, by
Malibu Moon. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($16,000 2yo '21
KEEJAN). O-The Estate of Scott Zimmerman; B-Dattt Farm LLC
(KY); T-John T. Toscano, Jr.. $50,000.
3–Fluid Situation, 118, c, 3, Warrior's Reward–Volatile Vickie,
by Elusive Quality. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($45,000 Ylg '20 OBSOCT; $200,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR).
O-Curragh Stables; B-Hidden Point Farm Inc. (FL); T-John P.
Terranova, II. $30,000.
Margins: 23, 2 1/4, NO. Odds: 0.60, 15.80, 8.80.
Also Ran: Unbridled Bomber, No Sabe Nada, Nabokov.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Life Is Good Headlines Star-Studded Saturday of Racing

Holiday weekends are often synonymous with exciting race cards and this Fourth of July weekend is no exception with a dozen graded events on tap Saturday that include some of racing's best. The highlight of the day's action is the return of 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief), who is making his first start back since finishing fourth in the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 26 in Belmont's GII John A. Nerud S.

A dominant winner of last year's GII Kelso H. and GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and this term's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S., Life Is Good spent some time at WinStar after his return from Dubai and has been breezing steadily at Belmont for Pletcher since Memorial Day weekend. Flavien Prat climbs aboard the fleet-footed bay for the first time Saturday.

“Flavien has proven he rides really well in any occasion,” said Pletcher, who indicated this race is a prep for the GI Whitney S. “There might be some similarities to Flightline (Tapit) and Life Is Good, but we'll have a talk about the horse a little bit. He's got kind of a quiet touch, so that should suit him well.”

While Life Is Good will certainly be the heavy favorite, there is one member of this five-horse field who could give him a run for his money. Godolphin homebred Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) kicked off 2022 with a trio of seemingly effortless victories in the GIII Fred Hooper S., GII Gulfstream Park Mile and GI Carter H. He received a 114 Beyer Speed Figure for that win, which trumps Life Is Good's best figure of 110 in the Pegasus. The bay enters this off a third-place finish behind unbeaten sensation Flightline in the GI Hill 'n' Dale Met Mile June 11 and Jose Ortiz takes over the controls from Junior Alvarado, who will be riding for trainer Bill Mott in Kentucky.

The Nerud certainly looks like a match race between these two formidable foes as Repo Rocks (Tapiture), Harvard (Pioneerof the Nile) and War Tocsin (Violence) are overmatched to say the least.

Also on tap at Belmont Saturday is the GIII Dwyer S. for sophomore colts. The regally bred Charge It (Tapit) looks to rebound in this cutback in trip after a poor effort in the GI Kentucky Derby, where he finished 17th. The 'TDN Rising Star' was a green, but good second in the GI Curlin Florida Derby in April and the Run for the Roses may have just been too much too soon. You can count on Pletcher to have the colt ready to roll in this softer spot and his back-to-back bullets on the local training track affirm that. With the colt's regular rider Luis Saez at Churchill Downs for Americanrevolution (Constitution), the Hall of Famer calls on his right-hand man John Velazquez to take over the reins.

Chad Brown has an intriguing runner in the Dwyer in Peter Brant's Nabokov (Uncle Mo). The $775,000 KEESEP buy earned his diploma at this oval when extended to two turns last time in his second start May 15.

Cox Holds Strong Hand at Churchill

Churchill Downs also offers a pair of intriguing graded events and Brad Cox has a strong chance to take both. He sends out Juddmonte homebred Mandaloun (Into Mischief)–who is making his first start since a well-beaten ninth in the G1 Saudi Cup–in the GII Stephen Foster H., a Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' event. The colt was promoted to first via DQ in both the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Haskell Invitational S. last year and crossed the line first in the GIII Louisiana S. in January. Cox also saddles Caddo River (Hard Spun) off a trio of optional claimer scores.

Olympiad | Coady

That pair face some stiff competition from New York in Olympiad (Speightstown) and Americanrevolution (Constitution). The Bill Mott-trained Olympiad is a perfect four-for-four this season, topped by wins in the GIII Mineshaft S., GII New Orleans Classic and GII Alysheba S. Meanwhile, Americanrevolution, who shares the same connections as Life is Good, looks to return to winning ways. Capturing the GI Cigar Mile Dec. 4, the chestnut spent six months on the shelf and was a disappointing fourth in his return in the track-and-trip Blame S. June 4.

The GII Fleur de Lis S. attracted just five distaffers, but two of them are Grade I winners. Cox sends out Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), whose trio of Grade I wins includes the 2020 GI Kentucky Oaks. The bay was run down last time by this field's other top-level scorer Pauline's Pearl (Tapit) in this venue's GI La Troienne S. May 6. That Stonestreet homebred ran back in the local Shawnee S. June 4, finishing fourth as the heavy favorite behind She's All Wolfe (Magna Graduate).

Sprinters Star at Gulfstream

Female sprinters get a chance to secure a spot in the Breeders' Cup Saturday at Gulfstream in the GII Princess Rooney S., a 'Win and You're In.' Champion Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) won this event last term en route to a victory in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint and she will be heavily favored to defend her title. Winner of the GII Azeri S. earlier this year, the chestnut was third behind champion Letruska (Super Saver) and last-out GI Ogden Phipps S. winner Clairiere (Curlin) in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 23.

Her biggest competition will come from claim-to-fame Glass Ceiling (Constitution), winner of the GIII Barbare Fritchie S. and GIII Distaff H. The bay enters off a third to Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot) in the GII Bed O'Roses S. June 10.

Male sprinters get a chance at graded glory in Hallandale too in the GIII Smile Sprint S. The race will go through GI Woody Stephens S. winner Drain the Clock (Maclean's Music), who makes his first start since finishing seventh in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen S. Mar. 26.

Delaware & Canada Also Offer Graded Action

Sophomores will be in the spotlight at Delaware Park Saturday with the GIII Delaware Oaks and GIII Kent S. Ruthless S. winner Shotgun Hottie (Gun Runner) looks like the one to beat. The bay receives Lasix for the first time off a third-place finish in Aqueduct's GIII Gazelle S. Apr. 9.

The GIII Kent S. features 3-year-old colts on the grass and the likely favorite is Harrell Ventures' Main Event (Bernardini), winner of the Cutler Bay S. He was last seen finishing ninth in the GII American Turf S. at Churchill May 7. He faces Brad Cox runner Tommy Bee (Medaglia d'Oro), who was second in a trio of listed stakes.

Woodbine hosts four graded events Saturday: the GIII Selene S. for 3-year-old fillies, the GIII Marine S. for sophomore colts, the GII Nassau S. for older fillies and mares, and the GII Highlander S. for older male turf sprinters. Jonathan Thomas could win both the sophomore events with Catiche (Arrogate) in the Selene and Fuerteventura (Summer Front) in the Marine.

Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown), winner of this venue's GII Bessarabian S., faces SW & MGSP Crystal Cliffs (Fr) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) and GSW Plum Ali (First Samurai) in the Nassau. The Highlander is topped by the Wesley Ward-trained Bound for Nowhere (The Factor), a two-time winner of the GII Shakertown S. at Keeneland.

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