Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Charge It

Apr 27, 2022 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Whisper Hill Farm homebred Charge It sits in 19th place on the 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series leaderboard with 40 qualifying
points. The Todd Pletcher pupil earned his berth into the Run for the
Roses at Churchill Downs on May 7 by coming home second in the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park on April 2. 

“Super pleased with the effort. To get a real education in a race like
that was very encouraging. He got a little green down the lane.”
Pletcher stated. “But I thought it was a huge effort, considering
everything. Overcame some adversity, took some dirt, and did a lot of
things right. Just didn’t quite polish it off.” 

Charge It was unveiled on January 8 and showed early speed before
finishing a close second in a maiden special weight event at Gulfstream
Park. In his second assignment, the well-bred son of Tapit left no doubt
when cruising home to an 8 1/2-length score while running one mile on the
same surface. He now shows a career line of 3-1-2-0, $230,400. 

The colt was bred in the Bluegrass State and boasts one of the best
catalog pages of any horse on the Triple Crown this season. He is
the initial stakes performer out of the winning Indian Charlie mare
I’ll Take Charge, who is a half-sister to a trio of Grade 1 performers,
including champion Will Take Charge, Florida Derby hero Take Charge
Indy, as well as Beholder Mile S. (G1) queen As Time Goes By. His second
dam is Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady, and Charge It also hails
from the same female line as champion Take Charge Brandi and three-time
Grade 1 star Omaha Beach. 

Charge It has earned Brisnet Speed figures of 91-98-94 from a trio of
performances to date. The talented gray colt seems well-equipped to
handle the 1 1/4-mile distance in the Kentucky Derby, but his inexperience
could get the best of him. He has run like a horse that will need more
seasoning before peaking, and while he might possess as much raw talent
as any horse in his division, Charge It will need a big step forward to
make a major impact in the Run for the Roses.