Schettino prepping sisters Bernieandtherose, Bernietakescharge for upcoming starts
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OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Stakes-winning sisters Bernietakescharge and Bernieandtherose both were on the work tab Sunday at Belmont Park as the pair of New York-bred females prepare for their upcoming engagements.
Bernietakescharge, a 5-year-old daughter of Take Charge Indy, worked a half-mile in 48.21 seconds, her third move since she finished second in the Ladies Stakes on Feb. 6 at Aqueduct. Bernietakescharge, a three-time stakes winner in 2025, is under consideration for the $175,000 Top Flight Invitational at 1 1/8 miles on March 29 or $135,000 Biogio’s Rose Stakes, a one-mile race restricted to New York-breds, on April 19.
In 2025, Bernietakescharge won three races – two stakes – at a one-turn mile. She also won the Critical Eye going 1 1/8 miles around two turns at Saratoga. Trainer Dominick Schettino said his concern about running 1 1/8 miles is that his front-running mare rarely gets a breather on the lead.
“Every race she ran, they just pressed her from the start,” Schettino said. “I watch a lot of races at different tracks going two turns, I see horses get a little breather, but every time she seemed to run they go after her . . . and she responds, she fights.”
Meanwhile, Bernieandtherose, by Accelerate, worked five furlongs in 1:00.11 on Sunday morning. That was her fourth workout since returning to the work tab Feb. 18. Bernieandtherose, who won two statebred stakes as a 3-year-old in 2025, has not run since finishing third in the Bouwerie on June 4 at Saratoga.
Schettino said Bernieandtherose had bone bruising after that race and was given plenty of time off.
“With the ability she has, we wanted to give her time to grow. She was immature, still developing physically, so the time would only help her,” Schettino said. “She filled out a lot in behind, put on some more muscle behind, filled out in her chest area.”
Schettino said he would look for an open first-level allowance for Bernieandtherose to kick off her 4-year-old campaign.
Schettino said now that the sisters – both are out of the mare Berning Rose – are eligible for the same dirt races, he may try Bernietakescharge on turf later in the year. Last summer, she was entered in the Yaddo Stakes, a turf race at Saratoga, but scratched to run in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on dirt where she was pressed on the lead and finished last.
“She worked well on it,” Schettino said. “That’s not out of the question either, to try her on the grass at some point.”
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