Bernietakescharge takes an allowance optional claimer Dec. 14, 2023, at Aqueduct (NYRA/Coglianese)
NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y.— Just over five years after sending out the Freud mare Berning Rose to a victory in the state-bred Maid of the Mist at Belmont Park, trainer Domenick Schettino and owners/breeders Robert Rosenthal and Bradford Bernstein will hope to see the second generation New York homebred Bernietakescharge score her first stakes victory in Sunday’s $100,000 Franklin Square at Aqueduct Racetrack.
“Her mom showed right off the bat in her early breezes that she could really run,” said Schettino. “Bernietakescharge isn’t as mature as her mom was as a 2-year-old, but she’s starting to mature and really put it all together now.”
Bernietakescharge is the second foal produced from Berning Rose to race for her connections, joining her half-sister Berning Honor in the Schettino barn last May. The dark bay daughter of Take Charge Indy arrives at the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for state-bred sophomore fillies from a six-furlong state-bred optional claiming score here on December 14 when sporting blinkers for the first time.
There, she pounced from 1 1/2-lengths off the pace to take a head advantage at the stretch call and fend off P Mutter Pickle by three-quarter lengths. The win garnered a career-best 69 Beyer Speed Figure.
“The blinkers were on and she seemed a little more focused with them,” said Schettino. “She’s still learning. They liked the horse she beat.”
Bernietakescharge debuted on the turf with a third-place effort in a 1 1/16-mile maiden tilt on August 2 at Saratoga Race Course, but responded to a change in surface with aplomb when shorted up to one mile to score a pacesetting win in an off-the-turf route two weeks later over a fast Spa main track.
She made her stakes debut in October over fast and sealed going in the state-bred Maid of the Mist at the Big A, and finished an even fourth after being bumped heading into the stretch and finishing 4 1/4 lengths behind the victorious My Mane Squeeze, who she’ll face again in the Franklin Square.
Bernietakescharge posted her final breeze in preparation for the Franklin Square on January 2 with jockey Trevor McCarthy up, covering a half-mile in company in 51.28 seconds over the Belmont Park training track.
“Trevor worked her and we just schooled her a little bit,” said Schettino. “It was a nice work, she galloped out well.”
Schettino said he expects Bernietakescharge, who will emerge from post 7 in rein to McCarthy, will eventually be effective at a range of distances.
“I’m pretty sure she’ll carry distance further than six and a half [furlongs], it’s just that this race happened to come up that distance,” said Schettino. “I think she’ll run well in there and she’s positioned well with the post.”
Bernietakescharge boasts total purse earnings of $112,210. Her second dam, Peach Flambe, was a winner on turf and a dual stakes winner on dirt at distances of seven and nine furlongs.
