Charge It: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Charge It breaking his maiden at Gulfstream Park (Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos)
April 27th, 2022
A runaway wire-to-wire maiden winner the second time out in mid-February, Charge It switched tactics and stamped his Kentucky Derby ticket with a rallying second in the Florida Derby (G1). He displayed signs of immaturity while making his stakes and two-turn debut, racing in spots and repeatedly lugging in during the stretch drive, but the long-striding gray colt still has plenty going for him. Charge It appears likely to keep improving with experience, and he resides in a top barn for the Kentucky Derby.
Todd Pletcher's Kentucky Derby 148 contenders both worked out today @ChurchillDowns.
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 22, 2022
He shares his thoughts on how their workouts took place over a track that still contained some moisture.
Charge It - 5f in 100.40
Mo Donegal - 4f in 50.20
Bet W/ #TwinSpires pic.twitter.com/2brH9PIvCI
Charge It Speed Figures
Top Brisnet Speed: 98, maiden win
Top Brisnet Late Pace: 107, maiden win
Charge It Pedigree
Sire: Tapit
Tapit has been a major influence in the final leg of the Triple Crown, siring four Belmont S. winners, but he’s never produced a Kentucky Derby winner. The three-time leading sire had a big chance last year, but multiple champion Essential Quality sustained his first defeat finishing a troubled fourth (elevated to third via disqualification) as the favorite. Tapit won the 2004 Wood Memorial (G1), but he wound up ninth behind Smarty Jones in the slop at Churchill Downs.
Dam: I’ll Take Charge
Charge It is out of the Indian Charlie mare I’ll Take Charge, a daughter of 2013 Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady and a half-sister to champion Will Take Charge and two other Grade 1 winners. No Kentucky Derby winners can be found in the immediate bloodlines from this regal female family, but Omaha Beach was installed as the morning-line favorite in the 2019 edition before being scratched.
Charge It Connections
Owner: Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm
Charge It will be the second Kentucky Derby starter for Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm, which finished fifth with Mylute in 2013. Whisper Hill owns and bred Charge It, and homebred three-year-olds have won 11 of the last 18 runnings of the Kentucky Derby.
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Todd Pletcher is the all-time leader by Kentucky Derby starts, compiling a 59-2-2-4 record since saddling his first horse in 2000. His wins came via Super Saver (2011) and Always Dreaming (2017), and Pletcher is also preparing Mo Donegal and Pioneer of Medina for this year’s Run for the Roses.
Jockey: Luis Saez
Luis Saez will seek his first official victory in his ninth Kentucky Derby appearance. He finished first aboard Maximum Security (2019) before being disqualified for interference at the top of the stretch.
Learn about all of the Kentucky Derby Contenders and the lead up to the Fastest Two Minutes in Sports here on TwinSpires.com
