Charge It After Third Straight in Gulfstream Park Mile

Whisper Hill Farm's Charge It, who has produced flashes of brilliance during his six-race career, is scheduled to make a highly anticipated return to stakes action March 4 in the $200,000 Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2). The one-turn mile for 4-year-olds and up will be one of nine stakes (eight graded) on Saturday's 14-race program at Gulfstream Park, headlined by the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2). Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Charge It returned from a seven-month layoff to win an allowance optional claiming race Feb. 5 at Gulfstream, covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.96. "It was great to get him back. He had been training super into that, and I thought it was a big effort," Pletcher said. The 4-year-old son of Tapit captured the July 2 Dwyer Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park by a dazzling 23 lengths. "We're trying to figure out a program. We considered some out-of-town options, but we figured he has run well at Gulfstream. and it would make an easy ship from Palm Beach Downs," Pletcher said. "We're thinking maybe down the road a race like the (April 22) Oaklawn Handicap (G2) could fit his schedule. We felt like this would be a good segue." Charge It graduated by 8 1/2 lengths at Gulfstream in his second career start last February before overcoming an awkward start to finish second behind White Abarrio in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) in April. The Pletcher trainee finished off the board in the Kentucky Derby (G1), where he encountered traffic, before rebounding with his spectacular showing in the Dwyer. The Dwyer followed a post-Derby surgical procedure to address a breathing problem. Charge It is scheduled to meet eight rivals in the Gulfstream Park Mile with Luis Saez back aboard. Endorsed, trained by Mike Maker for owner Mark Breen, is one of Charge It's leading opponents, entering the race off a pair of solid victories, including a 2 3/4-length score in the one-turn mile Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3) on the undercard of the Jan. 28 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream. Tyler Gaffalione has the call aboard the 7-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro. Tami Bobo and Tristan De Meric's Simplification, who ran the race of his career a year ago at Gulfstream while capturing the Fountain of Youth, is scheduled to make his first start since finishing off the board in the Pegasus World Cup. The Antonio Sano trainee, a troubled fourth in the Kentucky Derby last year, is winless in his eight starts since his Fountain of Youth score. Joel Rosario is aboard the son of Not This Time. The field also includes Arindel's Octane, Stonehedge's Dean Delivers, OGMA Investments, Michael Iavarone, Jules Iavarone, Marquee Bloodstock, and Jack Towell Jr.'s O Captain, Carrie Brogden's Steal Sunshine, David Fawkes Racing's Noble Drama, and R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, and Spedale Family Racing's Nitrous Channel.