Pletcher hopes perplexing Charge It can step up in Whitney

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Charge It’s ability has never been questioned. Getting him to display that with any consistency, that is another matter.

The perplexing son of Tapit looks to string together consecutive victories for the first time in the same season when he opposes five rivals in the $1 million Whitney (G1). He comes off an impressive 4 3/4-length victory in the July 8 Suburban (G2) at Belmont Park in which he flashed early speed and poured it on.

“His most professional effort so far was in the Suburban,” said Hall of Fame Todd Pletcher of that contest at a mile and a quarter. “Hopefully, that is an indication that he’s maturing and starting to put it all together.”

Charge It can hardly be described as a disappointment. He has won four of 10 starts with three second-place efforts while earning a robust $717,600 lifetime. He has been somewhat of a puzzle, however, for breeder-owner Whisper Hill Farm.

“He’s a typical Tapit. He’s had a few issues. He’s had some things go on,” said Todd Quast, Whisper Hill’s general manager. “Right now, he’s bounced out of the Suburban great. I think two turns and backing up a little bit will suit him perfectly.”

Hopes have always been high for Charge It. They were when he broke his maiden by 8 1/2 rousing lengths in his second career start and followed that with an adversity-filled second-place effort to Whitney rival White Abarrio in the Florida Derby. Although he struck the gate and lugged in during the stretch run, it seemed as if the Florida Derby would set him up well for the Kentucky Derby.

But no. He needed to be steadied by jockey Luis Saez and was never a factor as 80-1 bomb Rich Strike shocked the racing world.

Pletcher took his time regrouping. Charge It did not make the Preakness or Belmont. He was plenty ready for the July 2 Dwyer (G3), roaring off by 23 lengths in that one-mile event.

What did he do for an encore? Nothing.

“He unfortunately grabbed a quarter pretty badly in that race, which eventually developed into a wall separation and a quarter crack. We were trying to get to the Jim Dandy and we couldn’t. Then we were trying to get to the Travers and we couldn’t,” Pletcher explained. “The only way we could really get it to heal was to stop and give him some time off.”

Charge It made his 4-year-old debut by winning an optional claiming race last February at Gulfstream Park. But he missed by a length and a half to Endorsed in the Gulfstream Park Mile before performing erratically and finishing a disappointing fifth in the April 22 Oaklawn Handicap (G2). He was caught wide when he wound up fourth in the June 10 Met Mile.

“We’ve made some minor equipment changes. We tried the blinkers and maybe he was a little too headstrong in the Oaklawn race,” Pletcher noted. “I thought he ran very well in the Metropolitan. He was competitive in there against a super strong field.”

That good effort still left him 5 1/2 lengths in arrears of Cody’s Wish, a deserving 1-2 Whitney favorite in Pletcher’s eyes. “Cody’s Wish is an exceptional talent. I respect his chances at a mile and an eighth,” the trainer said. “Clearly, he’s the horse to beat.”

Charge It will break from post two with John Velazquez aboard. He is listed as the third choice in the morning line at 5-1, behind Cody’s Wish and 9-2 Zandon. Cody’s Wish and jockey Junior Alvarado drew outside while Joel Rosario must work out a trip from the rail with Zandon.

If Charge It runs well and bounces out of the Whitney in good shape, the 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) on Sept. 2 at Saratoga would likely be next.

“I think he has Grade 1 talent,” Pletcher said. “We’ve just got to get it right on the day.”