Take Charge Tom remained unbeaten in three starts when he overtook pacesetter Smash It for a one-length win in the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby on Friday at Sunland Park. Remember Big Jim closed for second, finishing a half-length in front of third-place finisher Smash It.
The one-mile race served as the local prep for the $400,000 Sunland Park Derby on Feb. 16. It was showcased on a card of four stakes, and the races are expected to produce starters for the Sunland Derby Day card that includes the $250,000 Sunland Park Oaks.
Take Charge Tom ($8) broke well and tracked Smash It, peppering that one along through fractions of 22.86 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.75 for the half-mile, and 1:12.53 for six furlongs. Take Charge Tom pushed past the leader in the later stages and covered the distance on a fast track in 1:38.80.
Orlando Mojica was aboard the Randy Howg homebred for trainer Robertino Diodoro.
Early in the race, Wicked Trouble veered out on the first turn after breaking from the rail and carried out a number of runners. The incident did not impact Take Charge Tom or Smash It.
Take Charge Tom won a maiden race and the Lost in the Fog Juvenile at Turf Paradise prior to the Riley Allison Derby. Diodoro said it is about a six-hour ship from the Arizona track to Sunland.
Take Charge Tom is a son of Tom’s d’Etat and multiple stakes-winning mare Gorgeous Ginny.
Asmussen wins three stakes
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen won three of the four stakes Friday, taking the $75,000 Ft. Bliss with Jaxon Traveler, the $65,000 Bold Ego with Closing Act, and the $65,000 Borderplex with Innocence.
Closing Act ($17.60) sat just off the pace and rallied for a 4 3/4-length win over Dashingly in the Bold Ego.
Corrina Corrina, who was the 2-5 favorite, did not come out of the starting gate for the race run at 5 1/2 furlongs. According to the chart of the race, she “hopped up at the start and did not leave the gate and later walked off.”
Following a stewards’ inquiry, track announcer Eric Alwan announced the findings.
“Corrina Corrina caused her own problems at the gate and is a live runner,” he said.
Closing Act covered the distance in 1:03.51. Asmussen trains the daughter of Munnings for Douglas Scharbauer. Luis Contreras was aboard for the win on Closing Act.
Contreas also rode Jaxon Traveler, who like Closing Act is by Munnings. Jaxon Traveler and Redline hooked up after Jaxon Traveler ran the opening quarter in 22.73. The pair carried on through a half-mile in 45.73 and continued to battle to the wire, with Jaxon Traveler winning the six-furlong race by a neck over Redline in 1:09.60.
Jaxon Traveler ($5), a millionaire, races for West Point Thoroughbreds.
Innocence ($15.80) tracked the pace en route to a five-length win in the Borderplex, a 6 1/2-furlong race expected to produce starters for the Sunland Park Oaks. Innocence covered the distance in 1:17.94 after pushing fractions of 23.26 for the opening quarter and 46.73 for the half-mile. Alfredo Contreras was aboard the daughter of Into Mischief for Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and Stretch Run Ventures. Rogue Justice was second, and it was another 3 1/4 lengths back in third to Asmussen trainee Tapit First.
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