Take Charge Indy, Silver Max back in action

Take Charge Indy, Silver Max

back in action

Take Charge Indy, the star of the 2012 Florida Derby, will play a supporting

role on Gulfstream's biggest day this year when he heads a field of 10 in Grade

3, $100,000 Skip

Away. The 1 3/16-mile test, which yielded eventual Breeders' Cup Classic

winner Fort Larned last term, is one of five stakes on Saturday's Florida Derby

and Gulfstream Park Oaks undercard.

The Pat Byrne-trained Take Charge Indy has run strongly in a trio of starts

since returning from injury last fall. Third in the Grade 2 Fayette off a near

six-month layoff, he came within a length of Shackleford in the Grade 1 Clark

Handicap in his sophomore finale. In his 2013 debut, in the Grade 1 Donn

Handicap, the son of A.P. Indy could not keep up with a loose-on-the-lead

Graydar, finishing third by eight lengths.

Cigar Street, briefly a classic prospect last year for Steve Margolis, has

won two straight allowances at Gulfstream this winter for Hall of Famer Bill

Mott. The speedy son of Street Sense will be reunited Saturday with John

Velazquez, who rode Take Charge Indy in the Donn. Rosie Napravnik picks up the

mount on the latter.

Also of note in the Skip Away are Golden Ticket, the dead-heat winner of the

Grade 1 Travers who exits a third in the Grade 3 Mineshaft Handicap at Fair

Grounds, and Grade 2 veteran Pants On Fire, most recently an allowance winner in

the slop over a one-turn mile.

The Grade 3, $100,000

Appleton, a

one-mile feature on the grass, marks the return of the Dale Romans-trained

Silver Max. Although unplaced in his final two starts of 2012, the Badge of

Silver colt previously won five straight stakes in wire-to-wire fashion ,

including the Grade 2 Virginia Derby, Grade 2 American Turf, and the Arlington

Classic.

The main threats to Silver Max -- Joes Blazing Aaron, Beau Choix and Za

Approval -- finished second through fourth, respectively, in the last month's

Grade 3 Canadian Turf. While Joes Blazing Aaron is also likely to show early

foot, Beau Choix and Za Approval might benefit from a fast pace set by that

rival and/or Silver Max.

One of Gulfstream's oldest features, the Grade 3, $150,000

Orchid for

fillies and mares, attracted a field of 10 to go 1 1/2 miles on the turf.

Starformer, whose Grade 3 scores include The Very One, Long Island Handicap,

and Robert G. Dick Memorial, figures to be tested by Aigue Marine, who followed

up a close third in the Long Island with a convincing four-length allowance

triumph at Gulfstream earlier this month.

Closing Range, upset winner of the Grade 3 La Prevoyante Handicap two back,

and Florida Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf winner Regalo Mia, are other

notables.

The Grade 3, $150,000

Rampart, a 1

1/8-mile test for fillies and mares, came up soft this year with champion and

Grade 3 Sabin winner Royal Delta competing Saturday in the Dubai World Cup. The

two favorites in the Rampart will be Successful Song, a winner over Florida-breds

in the Florida Sunshine Millions Distaff and the Ocala in her last two, and Ciao

Bella, an impressive 5 3/4-length allowance scorer for owner Michael Tabor and

trainer Todd Pletcher last month.

The $75,000

Sir

Shackleton, at 6 1/2 furlongs, attracted a solid field of eight older

sprinters. The field includes 2012 Sir Shackleton winner Travelin Man, multiple

stakes winners Action Andy and Guam Typhoon, Grade 1 veteran Capt. Candyman Can,

and the Pletcher trainees Soaring Stocks and Spring Hill Farm.

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