Take Charge Indy runs best when he is fresh, said Byrne ahead of the Florida Derby
Many writers’s questioned Patrick Byrne’s decision not to run his 3-year-old colt, Take Charge Indy, in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. With Prospective winning the Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby against a relatively slow paced lineup, with the long shot
Golden Ticket being the only runner, who kept the winner honest in the stretch, many believed, Take Charge Indy would have had it easy in the race, and more importantly missed an opportunity to earn crucial graded stakes earning for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.
When talking about the colt’s next race, the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby, where Take Charge Indy will meet the likes of Union Rags, and El Padrino, Byrne made it very clear that he had no regrets about running the Kentucky Derby hopeful in the Tampa
Bay Derby.
“I’m tired of answering the question; I don’t want to sound (annoyed) but can we move on from it?” Byrne said. “You can always say ‘coulda, woulda, shoulda’ with everything, but the bottom line is I’m the 5-1 third choice in a $1 million race. Am I going
to say I wish I wasn’t here? It all depends at the way you look at it. Todd's (Pletcher) horse (Tampa Bay Derby favourite Spring Hill Farm) falls out of the gate and breaks his knee. Nobody could have predicted that.”
Patrick Byrne stressed on the fact that he knows his colt more than anyone, and the fact that he cannot run back to back races in a span of three weeks was a wise decision.
He further went on to say that all horses are made differently, and according to the veteran trainer, Take Charge Indy is one fast colt, and being small he can’t take these tough Triple Crown prep races if he is not fresh.
With horses breaking down left, right and centre, and keeping it in view, Byrne made a point that Take Charge Indy gave his all in an allowance/optional claimer at Gulfstream Park against El Padrino, and if he had run him in the Tampa Bay Derby and now the
Florida Derby, his chances in the Florida Derby would have been a lot bleaker than now.
Though he does face an uphill battle against the likes of Union Rags and El Padrino, it is got to be said that Byrne has taken a massive risk and put Take Charge Indy’s chances of competing in the Kentucky Derby in jeopardy.
Tags: