Bernietakescharge does just that at 17-1 (Chelsea Durand)
Christian Abdo/NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Robert D. Rosenthal and Bradford Bernstein’s New York homebred Bernietakescharge wired open company to earn her first stakes score in Saturday’s $150,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational, a one-turn mile test for older fillies and mares, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Domenick Schettino, Bernietakescharge, out of the stakes-winning Freud mare Berning Rose, is a half-sister to sophomore filly Bernieandtherose, a New York-homebred for the same connections who took the state-bred East View on February 8 here in her first stakes start.
Bernietakescharge took six tries for the elusive stakes score, namely hitting the board in last year’s local state-bred Franklin Square, Maddie May and East View. She was cross-entered in Sunday’s seven-furlong $125,000 Broadway versus fellow New York-breds, but Schettino opted for this race where the filly won impressively, leading gate-to-wire at odds of 17-1 under Romero Maragh.
“It’s great. [For] Bob Rosenthal and his family, I trained every horse – the mom, all the siblings,” said Schettino. “It was fast up front, but she runs like that – that’s the way she likes to run. When she gets to the quarter pole, if she’s still in front, a lot of times she’ll kick away and she continues to go forward.”
The 4-year-old Take Charge Indy dark bay exited post 3 and exchanged bumps with the favored Weigh the Risks but advanced with purpose along the inside to quickly take command from the outermost Aussie Girl through an opening quarter-mile in 23.12 seconds on the fast dirt.
“The goal was definitely to get the lead with her because she’s a quirky filly. As long as she’s clear or on the lead, she’ll give her honest, best effort,” said Maragh. “When horses come up to her, it pushes her even more and that was the game plan to establish the lead early.”
Bernietakescharge held her lead over Aussie Girl heading into the turn as Weigh the Risks maintained a stalking third position under Manny Franco as the half-mile elapsed in 46.36.
Weigh the Risks gained on Bernietakescharge and Aussie Girl in the turn, overtaking the latter midway around the bend with her sights set on the sharp frontrunner. Bernietakescharge was still in control with a half-length advantage following three-quarters in 1:11.56.
Bernietakescharge found more at the top of the lane, repelling the wide bid from Weigh the Risks and extending to a four-length lead at the eighth pole, driving home to a 6 1/4-length victory over that rival in a final time of 1:38.53.
BERNIETAKESCHARGE ($37.00), under @romeronlsa, did indeed take charge in the lane of the $150,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational at Aqueduct. Domenick Schettino trains the 4YO daughter of Take Charge Indy (@WinStarFarm).
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 22, 2025
There's a Pick 4 starting now: https://t.co/HXc1bROYDR pic.twitter.com/75gSOuZkEQ
Kid’s Last Laugh, who traveled last early, nosed out Aussie Girl for third. Bon Adieu, after a stumbling beginning, completed the order of finish. Patricia Ann and Catchphrase were scratched. The latter is cross-entered in the Broadway, but trainer Amelia Green indicated she will scratch in favor of an allowance tilt.
Maragh said the key to Bernietakescharge’s success is her competitive nature. He piloted her to a last-out pacesetting optional-claiming score on January 11 here.
“I’ve worked her in the mornings, too, and when she works by herself, you wouldn’t think she would win a stakes. She just goes by herself at a nice galloping speed. When she’s with company, she’s a completely different horse,” said Maragh. “So, I could tell by how she is in the morning that the afternoons are different with her.”
Schettino said a potential next start for Bernietakescharge could be the nine-furlong Listed $150,000 Top Flight on April 12 here.
“A mile, mile and an eighth are probably what’s in her wheelhouse. I won’t run her shorter than that,” Schettino said.
Franco said the Chad Brown-trained Weigh the Risks was second best today. She entered off two impressive local one-turn mile wins on dirt after making six of her first seven starts on turf.
“I had a perfect trip – no excuses,” said Franco. “They were rolling in front of me and my filly was doing it so nice, taking me there, but when I tried to engage the winner, she] just opened up again.”
Bernieandtherose banked $82,500 in victory and returned $37 for a $2 win bet, while improving her record to 15-5-2-2.
Live racing resumes Sunday with a 10-race card at the Big A, including the New York-bred $125,000 Broadway in Race 9. First post is 12:40 p.m. Eastern.
