Take Charge Indy, with Calvin Borel in the saddle, pulled off a stunning upset this afternoon in the $1,000,000 Florida Derby (gr. I), turning back bids from Reveron and heavy favorite Union Rags to win the race in gate-to-wire fashion.
A son of A.P. Indy, Take Charge Indy got off to an excellent start and raced away to set the early pace while being pressured by Reveron. Neck 'n Neck was racing in third toward the rail, with El Padrino and Union Rags -- the two favorites -- on his outside. Fort Loudon was next, followed by News Pending a Z Camelot.
Around the first turn and into the backstretch, Take Charge Indy continued to lead the way, with Borel sitting motionless aboard him. In the meantime, Union Rags and El Padrino had both dropped back a bit, with El Padrino keeping the favorite trapped along the rail with nowhere to run. In the end, however, this move may have cost them both the races, for it allowed Take Charge Indy to continue galloping along on the front end while facing only mild pressure from Reveron.
As the field rounded the final turn and entered the homestretch, El Padrino, Neck 'n Neck, and Fort Loudon were all attempting to make bids for the lead, but Take Charge Indy and Reveron turned them both back while battling each other for the lead. Union Rags was beginning to rally mildly while closing between horses, but in the end, it was Take Charge Indy who turned in the gamest of performances to win the nine-furlong race by a length and a half in 1:48.79.
Reveron held off Union Rags by a neck for second, while El Padrino rounded out the superfecta. The winner is trained by Patrick Byrne and is owned by Chuck and Maribeth Sandford.
-Keelerman
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