Charge It

Charge It, a well-bred 3-year-old son of Tapit homebred by Whisper Hill Farm and trained by Todd Pletcher, came a neck shy of winning his debut at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 8, 2022, finishing second behind Volcanic as the 7-5 favorite. He came back for another try in a one-turn mile race on Feb. 12, and this time rolled to a 8 ½-length victory at 1-5 odds.

Pletcher ambitiously pointed Charge It to the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa for his next start, and the colt was supported well by bettors against a field that included the winners of the Holy Bull Stakes, the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes, and the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby.

In the Florida Derby, Charge It stalked the pace and angled out under Luis Saez for a closing rally, and despite racing a bit greenly in the stretch he gamely fought hard to the finish, settling for second behind Holy Bull winner White Abarrio. The gray or roan colt earned 40 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.

Inexperience got the better of Charge It in the Derby, as he finished a well-beaten 17th. He returned in the Grade 3 Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park on July 2, and went off as the odds-on favorite. He lived up to the hype and then some, winning by a stunning 23 lengths while covering a mile in 1:34.67.

Charge It is out of the winning Indian Charlie mare I’ll Take Charge. His second dam is $2.4 million earner Take Charge Lady, a multiple Grade 1 winner who produced Grade 1 winner and champion Will Take Charge, Grade 1 Florida Derby winner Take Charge Indy, and Grade 1 winner As Time Goes By. Grade 1 winner and champion Take Charge Brandi and Grade 1 winner Omaha Beach are other close relatives.