Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm homebred Charge It , a 5-year-old son of Tapit out of the Indian Charlie winner I'll Take Charge, has been retired from racing and will enter stud at Gainesway Farm for the 2025 breeding season.
Charge It broke his maiden at Gulfstream Park by 8 1/2 lengths in his second career start. He quickly proved he belonged with the best in his class when he followed that performance with a second in the Florida Derby (G1) to future Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner White Abarrio.
Charge It went on at 3 to win the Dwyer Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park by an astounding 23 lengths and earned a career-best 114 Equibase Speed Figure, which is among the four highest ESFs for 3-year-old males going a mile in 2022.
His campaign at 4 was led by another dominant victory, this time at 1 1/4 miles in the Suburban Stakes (G2), where he drew away by 4 3/4 lengths.
"Winning any graded race by 23 lengths, as Charge It did in the Dwyer, takes an immensely talented horse. Charge It's ability was at the grade 1 level," said trainer Todd Pletcher.
Charge It registered ESFs of 100 or higher in 10 races and retired with four wins and earnings of $887,270.
Charge It hails from one of the most prominent and active families in the stud book. He is bred on the same cross as 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline , who is also by Tapit out of an Indian Charlie mare. I'll Take Charge is out of multiple grade 1 winner and multiple grade 1 producer Take Charge Lady, who was 2013 Broodmare of the Year. As a yearling, I'll Take Charge was highly regarded and sold for $2.2 million during the 2013 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
I'll Take Charge is a half sister to 2013 champion 3-year-old colt Will Take Charge and grade 1 winners Take Charge Indy and As Time Goes By. Take Charge Lady also is the second dam of 2014 champion 2-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi and grade 1 winner and current leading second-crop sire Omaha Beach .
"Charge It is an exceptional-looking horse that possessed brilliance," added Gainesway general manager Brian Graves. "His pedigree is among the very best available to breeders."
Charge It is available for inspection at Gainesway. A stud fee will be announced at a later date.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
