Take Charge Indy is headed to the Kentucky Derby, and had to beat a Triple Crown favorite to get there.
Going to the front out of the gate and staying there virtually every step of the way, Take Charge Indy took advantage of a speed-favoring Gulfstream Park track and won the Florida Derby on Saturday. He defeated heavily favored Union Rags, who managed to only finish third.
With three-time Kentucky Derby winner Calvin Borel aboard, Take Charge Indy finished the 1-1/8 mile in 1 minute, 48.79 seconds. Long shot Reveron was second, holding off Union Rags.
''The track was playing really good for us,'' winning trainer Patrick Byrne said. ''I told Calvin, `If you're on the lead and they leave you alone, fine.' ''
That's pretty much what happened. And now Take Charge Indy is heading to the Run for the Roses.
''That's why I showed up, baby,'' Borel said.
Union Rags settled in fourth entering the first turn, the pack closely bunched behind Take Charge Indy. When jockey Julian Leparoux asked Union Rags for his move, he first tried going to the inside and then turned back toward the center of the track.
But by then, there was no catching Take Charge Indy, who returned $17.40 for a $2 win bet.
Union Rags reared up after his van ride to Gulfstream on Saturday. He then had a shoe issue in the paddock just before heading onto the track. He was the consensus Kentucky Derby favorite entering the day, and trainer Michael Matz says he's still heading there to start the Triple Crown season.
Matz said the issue with the shoe shouldn't have entered into Union Rags' showing. And while Union Rags took a blow to his status as the consensus favorite heading into Triple Crown season, Matz — who won both the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby with Barbaro in 2006 — still is hopeful he has a horse that can be at its best on the first Saturday in May.
''If he comes out well out of this race, we'll be at the Derby,'' Matz said.
The Florida Derby was one of six graded stakes races the Saturday card.
Heavily favored Grace Hall ($4.40) won the Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks, taking off at the top of the stretch and being ridden out to prevail by 5-1/2 lengths. Awesome Maria ($2.20) won the Grade 3 Rampart. Fort Larned ($26.20) took the Grade 3 Skip Away. Corporate Jungle ($6) won the Grade 3 Appleton, and Hit It Rich ($7.40) won the Grade 3 Orchid Stakes.
