Take Charge Tom won his third race in as many starts in the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby Jan. 17 at Sunland Park, putting away stakes winner Smash It in upper stretch and comfortably holding off Remember Big Jim to win by a length [WATCH RACE].
Take Charge Tom is the first multiple stakes winner for Tom’s d’Etat, who got his first graded stakes winner last month when Enomao captured a Group 3 event. Winner of the Clark S. (G1) and Stephen Foster S. (G2), Tom’s d’Etat stands for $5,000 S&N.
Take Charge Tom, who was making his two-turn debut in Friday’s one-mile race for 3-year-olds, locked into an early battle with Smash It, who had a narrow lead after a half-mile in :46.75. Take Charge Tom poked his head in front with a two furlongs to run, then finally pulled clear inside the final furlong to stop the timer in 1:38.80 on a fast track.
The winner is trained by Robertino Diodoro for owner/breeder Randy Howg. Winner of the Lost in the Fog Juvenile S. in his prior start, Take Charge Tom has earned $96,200. The dark bay colt’s dam Gorgeous Ginny was a three-time stakes winner on this same circuit.
