Take Charge Indy took charge of the Florida Derby, going almost wire to wire under Calvin Borel to surprise everyone who sent Union Rags off as the 2 to 5 favorite. The winner went off at 7 to 1 odds which proved that some in the crowd recognized his potential, including his trainer Pat Byrne who decided there weeks ago to bypass the Tampa Bay Derby for the stiffer competition in The Florida Derby.
To be fair, the fractions were very slow and the strategy of the race seemed to be to box Union Rags in any and every way possible--which was accomplished until about half way down the stretch when jockey Leparoux finally found running room and Union Rags showed us another gear. He finished third by a length and a half , which is to his credit since at the top of the stretch he was about four or five lengths out of it.
What do I think? Well if it was that easy, they wouldn't call it horse racing. I still think Union Rags is the horse to beat but the question becomes how will he react to being boxed in by nineteen horses instead of seven? I do think his jockey learned today to let him go a little earlier--he held the horse very tightly down the back stretch and in my opinion waited too long to ask him to make a move. It was a good learning experience and remember he did not need to win the race to make it into the Derby as many of the others (like the winner) needed to do.
Next week is the Santa Anita Derby which should cloud the picture a little more. But the good news is that the pressure is off Union Rags for the time being, which is a very good thing. He may not go off the favorite in the Derby--another good thing--and his jockey may have learned that the way to beat those slow fractions (another deliberate attempt to take Union Rags out of his element), is to let his horse set the pace.
That's also the way to win the Derby. Go out in front. Get away from the traffic and run away with the race.
It is now officially getting interesting. And that is no April Fools.
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