C. S. Incharge beats favored Daisy in Tampa Bay's Suncoast Stakes

C. S. Incharge, fresh off her maiden win, proved best in Saturday’s $150,000 Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, holding off a late run from even money favorite Daisy in the 2018 Kentucky Oaks prep.

The daughter of Take Charge Indy and C. S. Royce, C. S. Incharge is a homebred for Pacella Racing and a half-sister to 2016 Preakness Stakes runner-up Cherry Wine and Grade 3 winner Sweeping Paddy. She earned her second win from six starts and picked up Oaks qualifying points with the Suncoast offering them for the first time this renewal.

Longshot So Refined was quickest out of the gate, while the Dale Romans-trained C. S. Incharge broke from the rail under jockey Joel Rosario and took up second over Daisy. Blonde Bomber, third in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies settled in fifth.

So Refined led the 3-year-old fillies through opening fractions of :23.72 and :47.29. Jockey John Velazquez tried to get Daisy moving, but the favorite was not responding fast enough. So Refined still held the lead turning for home in 1:12.05, but C. S. Incharge was also driving.

Daisy eventually got going, but was too late by the time she made her run. C. S. Incharge had wore down the pacesetter and completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.40. Daisy was able to get up for second over a late closing Mihrab, who had trailed the field early. So Refined faded to fourth, and Blonde Bomber never threatened, finishing fifth ahead of Belles Orb.