CHARGING INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON
The lightly raced 'TDN Rising Star' Charge It (Tapit), a forgettable 17th with a nightmare trip in the GI Kentucky Derby, put it all together with a jaw-dropping victory in Saturday's GIII Dwyer S. at Belmont Park.
The rail-drawn 3-5 favorite--a green second while making his stakes debut at third asking in the GI Curlin Florida Derby Apr. 2 --pressed Fluid Situation (Warrior's Reward) from second while racing in tight quarters along the fence here.
Hall of Famer Johnny Velazquez bulled his way into the clear after brushing with the tiring maiden winner and second choiceNabokov (Uncle Mo) at the five-eighths pole and the gray put on an absolute show from there. Charge It cruised to the front a quarter of a mile from home and was kept to task down the stretch to win by a devastating 23 lengths. Longshot Runninsonofagun (Gun Runner) was second; Fluid Situation was third.