Takeover Target lands in Bernard Baruch

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Takeover Target and Reporting Star, both scratched from the Grade 1 Fourstardave two weeks ago, were among the 10 horses entered Thursday for Monday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap.

Takeover Target, trained by Chad Brown, prefers ground with give in it but did win the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes here last summer over firm turf.

“I’ve been ducking and diving looking for soft, and we got it, but we canceled the races, which was understandable,” said Brown, referring to the card Aug. 13, when the Fourstardave was originally carded. “It’s time to run him. It’s not that he hasn’t performed on dry, but his preferred ground is soft.”

Ring Weekend, who ran sixth in the Fourstardave, also was entered back in the Bernard Baruch, a 1 1/16-mile turf race. The others entered were a trio of Bill Mott runners – Dubai Sky, Take the Stand, and War Dancer – as well as Farhaan, Jay Gatsby, Natchez, and Solemn Tribute.