Take Charge Indy
Kentucky Derby
Contender Profile
5/5/12
(Starts: 6 Win: 2 Place: 2 Show: 0 Earnings: $721,000)
Trainer: Patrick Byrne (20%)
Jockey: Calvin Borel (14.8%)
THE CONNECTIONS: While not as well known as Todd Pletcher or Bob Baffert, Patrick Byrne is as well regarded as they are. Byrne conditioned Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Awesome again. In short, he knows how to condition a race horse. Everyone knows jockey Calvin Borel. Minus last year he has won 3 of the last 4 Kentucky Derbies. He is one of the best riders in the history of Churchill Downs and will give this guy one heck of a chance to wear the Roses.
THE PEDIGREE: Sire A.P. Indy is one of the best in the history of thoroughbred racing. The Belmont Stakes winner is an excellent sOurce of brilliance and stamina. He once stood for a whopping $300k which should tell you all you need to know about his greatness. The dam, Take Charge LAdy, was one of the greatest female racehorses of the past decade. She was a Grade 1 winner at 2, 3, and 4 which is extremely rare. Her sire, Dehere, is a bit of a question mark when it comes to classic distances, but there is more than enough on the topside to make up for that. If Take Charge Indy doesn’t win the Kentucky Derby it isn’t likely to be because of his pedigree.
THE HORSE: This horse has had high expectations from the word go. He won first out at Arlington by 6 ½ lengths and was quickly thrown to the wolves in the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity. He was second in that race. He ended his juvenile campaign with a fifth place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He really put all the pieces together last out in the Grade 1 Florida Derby where he we wired the field under Calvin Borel who gave a similar prep ride to 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver.
CONCLUSION: This horse is plenty talented and with the right trip he can wear the Roses on Saturday. The biggest problem for him is the “Borel Factor” as the jockey is sure to attract plenty of money. If he can be had at the right price, he is a good play.
PEDIGREE GRADE: A
OVERALL GRADE: B+
FAIR ODDS: 10-1