Take Charge Indy pointing for Skip Away on 3/30
Mar 18, 2013 15:02:20 GMT -5
Post by Jon on Mar 18, 2013 15:02:20 GMT -5
After his half-bro's big win, it's good to see him back.
Take Charge Indy posts three-quarter move ahead of next start
Take Charge Indy, winner of the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park last year for trainer Pat Byrne, breezed six furlongs in 1:14 Sunday morning over the fast dirt at Palm Meadows in preparation for a likely start in the Grade 3, $100,000 Skip Away Stakes on Florida Derby Day, March 30.
"We're leaning strongly toward the Skip Away," Byrne said of the 1 3/16-mile test won last year by eventual Breeders' Cup Classic hero Fort Larned.
"We've also nominated to the (Grade 2, $400,000) New Orleans Handicap (at Fair Grounds) that same day and (co-owner WinStar Farm President/CEO) Elliott (Walden) wants to keep all of our options open for now. But it's a long season and it would be a lot easier to ship 45 minutes to Gulfstream rather than go to New Orleans to run against Graydar and Bourbon Courage.
"Another reason we're leaning to the Skip Away is that we can get Rosie (Napravnik) to ride him," Byrne added. "We've already been told that Johnny (Velazquez) will be riding Cigar Street in the Skip Away for Bill Mott."
Velazquez was aboard for Take Charge Indy's seasonal opener in the Grade 1 Donn on February 9, piloting the A.P. Indy four-year-old to a third-place finish that day behind wire-to-wire winner Graydar and Bourbon Courage. Napravnik, who leads all North American jockeys in wins through Saturday with 80, will be on hand at Gulfstream from Fair Grounds to ride Shanghai Bobby in the Grade 1 Florida Derby for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Out of Grade 1 winner Take Charge Lady, Take Charge Indy closed out his sophomore campaign with a top effort when second by a length behind Shackleford in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on November 23.
That was only the second start for the dark bay colt since being sidelined following a 19th-place finish in last year's Kentucky Derby. Take Charge Indy was found to have a bone chip in his left front ankle and underwent surgery to have it removed. Sidelined for nearly six months, he returned with a third-place effort in the Grade 2 Fayette at Keeneland in late October prior to the Clark.
www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=35196&from=656
Take Charge Indy posts three-quarter move ahead of next start
Take Charge Indy, winner of the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park last year for trainer Pat Byrne, breezed six furlongs in 1:14 Sunday morning over the fast dirt at Palm Meadows in preparation for a likely start in the Grade 3, $100,000 Skip Away Stakes on Florida Derby Day, March 30.
"We're leaning strongly toward the Skip Away," Byrne said of the 1 3/16-mile test won last year by eventual Breeders' Cup Classic hero Fort Larned.
"We've also nominated to the (Grade 2, $400,000) New Orleans Handicap (at Fair Grounds) that same day and (co-owner WinStar Farm President/CEO) Elliott (Walden) wants to keep all of our options open for now. But it's a long season and it would be a lot easier to ship 45 minutes to Gulfstream rather than go to New Orleans to run against Graydar and Bourbon Courage.
"Another reason we're leaning to the Skip Away is that we can get Rosie (Napravnik) to ride him," Byrne added. "We've already been told that Johnny (Velazquez) will be riding Cigar Street in the Skip Away for Bill Mott."
Velazquez was aboard for Take Charge Indy's seasonal opener in the Grade 1 Donn on February 9, piloting the A.P. Indy four-year-old to a third-place finish that day behind wire-to-wire winner Graydar and Bourbon Courage. Napravnik, who leads all North American jockeys in wins through Saturday with 80, will be on hand at Gulfstream from Fair Grounds to ride Shanghai Bobby in the Grade 1 Florida Derby for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Out of Grade 1 winner Take Charge Lady, Take Charge Indy closed out his sophomore campaign with a top effort when second by a length behind Shackleford in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on November 23.
That was only the second start for the dark bay colt since being sidelined following a 19th-place finish in last year's Kentucky Derby. Take Charge Indy was found to have a bone chip in his left front ankle and underwent surgery to have it removed. Sidelined for nearly six months, he returned with a third-place effort in the Grade 2 Fayette at Keeneland in late October prior to the Clark.
www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=35196&from=656
