Takeover Target Claims Hall of Fame Stakes
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Takeover Target has showed promise from the start. On Friday, Aug. 7 in the $200,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (gr. IIT) on the Saratoga Race Course turf, the Harlan's Holiday colt delivered.
Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence's unleashed a powerful late kick to surge past three rivals in the final furlong and secure the first stakes win of his career in the Hall of Fame Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds.
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. saved ground on the winner throughout, searched for room for a few strides turning for home, then finally angled outside where Takeover Target unleashed his powerful winning move, surging past stakes winner A Lot near the sixteenth pole on his way to a half-length win.
"I broke out of there and got good position, which is what I wanted to do. I saved all the ground I could and on the last turn I looked to my right and didn't see anybody, and this horse likes to get clear in the stretch," Ortiz said after Takeover Target completed the trip in 1:42 on firm turf, making up two lengths in the final 2 1/2 furlongs run in :28.47. "I got out and he took off. He was very good."
One of four horses sent out in the Hall of Fame by trainer Chad Brown, Takeover Target entered off a fifth-place finish in the 1 1/4-mile Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) July 4 at Belmont Park. Brown bumped Takeover Target to the grade I try after a very strong career start.
Takeover Target won his first two starts—displaying that powerful late kick in an allowance-optional claiming race score May 7 on the inner turf at Belmont. He then finished just a neck behind grade II winner Divisidero in the Pennine Ridge Stakes May 30 on the Belmont inner.
"It just wasn't quite his trip in the Belmont Derby going a mile-and-a-quarter. We got a nice cutback in distance today and a little class relief back into a grade II, and it did the trick for this horse," Brown said. "He only had one start as a 2-year-old and now he finally seems to be maturing, and Irad knows the horse well. He's the only rider that's ridden him and he gave him a great ride today."
Juddmonte Farms homebred Courtier finished third, earning his first graded stakes-placing. Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott conditions Amerman Racing's A Lot and Courtier. Startup Nation, favored at 3-1 and one of Brown's four starters, finished fifth.
Takeover Target returned $10.40 to win, $5.20 to place, and $4.50 to show. A Lot paid $5.80 and $4.50 while Courtier returned $8.30 to show.
A $175,000 purchase at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale, Takeover Target was bred in Kentucky by Dorothy Matz. He is out of the Empire Maker mare Vanquished, a half sister to two-time grade I winner Critical Eye.