Digging in resolutely in the stretch, Take Charge Tom posted a half-length victory in the $40,000 Lost in the Fog Juvenile Stakes Dec. 27 at Turf Paradise to become the first stakes winner for freshman sire Tom's d'Etat .
A grade 1-winning son of leading sire Smart Strike, Tom's d'Etat will stand the 2025 season for $5,000 at WinStar Farm near Lexington. Going into Friday's racing, Tom's d'Etat ranked 17th on the freshman sires list of 2024.
While owner/breeder Randy Howg and trainer Robertino Diodoro were patient with Take Charge Tom's debut, he proved more than ready when called upon Dec. 4, drawing off to a 9 1/4-length victory in that maiden optional claiming test going six furlongs at Turf Paradise. He secured his second win in as many starts in posting a stakes victory in Friday's 6 1/2-furlong test that drew nine runners.
Kentucky-bred Take Charge Tom is out of stakes-placed winner Gorgeous Ginny, by Take Charge Indy . Out of grade 2 winner Brooke's Halo, by Southern Halo, Gorgeous Ginny has produced two winners from as many starters.
On the track Tom's d'Etat earned more than $1.7 million and won six stakes, including the 2019 Clark Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs.
