Bernietakescharge holds off Sterling Silver to take Critical Eye Stakes
?q=100)
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When the millionaire and heavily favored Sterling Silver saddled alongside Bernietakescharge approaching the quarter pole of Wednesday’s $200,000 Critical Eye Stakes, Dominick Schettino, the trainer of Bernietakescharge, was going to be happy to finish second.
“When they got to the quarter pole and I saw [Sterling Silver] coming I said ‘Well, second ain’t bad,’ “ Schettino said. “Then I seen her in the stretch, well she’s got a shot here.”
Indeed. Despite being passed by Sterling Silver, Bernietakescharge, under Romero Maragh, battled back along the inside and outfinished Sterling Silver to win the Critical Eye for New York-bred fillies and mares by a neck at Saratoga. Sterling Silver, the 3/10 favorite, was 12 1/2 lengths clear of 62-1 shot Racing Colors.
It was just two months ago that Sterling Silver won the Biogio’s Rose Stakes at Aqueduct where and Bernietakescharge finished last, 38 1/2 lengths behind. That race was run over a muddy track.
“Last time she didn’t like the off-track so that was just a toss,” Maragh said. “So, I’m really happy to see she found back her form on a fast track. I’ve ridden her a bunch of times and she’s super game when horses come to her. I tried to just engage the other horse and that horse kind of helped me and carried me through the lane.”
Bernietakescharge, who two starts back won the Heavenly Prize Stakes by 6 1/4 lengths, won for the sixth time in 17 starts. A 4-year-old daughter of Take Charge Indy, Bernietakescharge is the older sister of Bernieandtherose, who finished third earlier on the card in the Bouwerie Stakes.
“She looked a little green to me,” Schettino said of Bernieandtherose. “She was looking on the inside, the outside, she hasn’t run in a couple of months so you got to take that into consideration. When the younger sister gets to go long … that’s going to be right in her wheelhouse.”
Bernietakescharge, owned by Robert Rosenthal and Bradford Bernstein, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.26 and returned $20.
Following Racing Colors in the order of finish were Amanda’s Folly, P Mutter Pickle, Lika Rolling Stone and Snappin Buttons. Landed was an early scratch while Call Her Bluff was scratched on track by the stewards on the advice of the veterinarian.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.