Kentucky Oaks prep: Recharge is 3-for-3 after Sunland victory

Undefeated in three races, Recharge led from the first callto the last, fending off a late challenge from Candy Aisle to win Sunday’s$250,000 Sunland Park Oaks, a black-type stakes that was a points prep for theGrade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

Joel Rosario, who had two earlier stakes wins and one later on the SunlandPark card, rode Recharge (2-1) for trainer Steve Asmussen from post 4 to thefirst-turn lead. They maintained a one-length advantage through honestfractions of 24.09, 48.39 and 1:12.61.

Turning for home, Recharge had not switched leads beforeCandy Aisle (2-1) measured her for a late challenge. Felipe Valdez moved hisbigger filly inward to go shoulder to shoulder with Recharge, who by then hadswitched leads and ran on to win by a neck.

“It looked like she was responding very good there,” said Rosario,who also won with Flying Connection in the Harry Henson Handicap, JaxonTraveler in the Bill Thomas Memorial and Payingoffmymarker in the Enchantress. “She kind of took a little time there toswitch leads. I got her to switch them, and she went on, and she came back andmoved forward with all the speed that she had. She did really great.”

There was a brief inquiry by stewards who looked at a bump atthe eighth pole between Recharge and Candy Aisle, but it was quickly resolvedwith no change in the order of finish.

Debut-winning, odds-on favorite Simply Enchanting (4-5)chased the early pace but was no match in the homestretch for the top two, andshe finished third. Methods (12-1) came in fourth, and Raspberry Wine (21-1) finishedlast of the five 3-year-old fillies. Floating Beauty was scratched.

The winning time was 1:37.27 for the two-turn mile on a fastmain track. Recharge returned $6.60, $3.80 and $2.10; Candy Aisle $4.20 and$2.10; and Simply Enchanting $2.10.

The five finishers were rewarded with 20-10-6-4-2 pointstoward qualifying for the Kentucky Oaks. Sunday’s win moved Recharge into 10thplace in the qualifying standings. A maximum 14 fillies will start May 3 at ChurchillDowns.

A Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred by Gun Runner out of theTapit mare Remit, Recharge made her debut with a nine-length win covering 5 1/2furlongs Dec. 19 at Remington Park. She followed that Jan. 21 with a 43/4-length triumph in a mile-and-70-yard allowance race at Sam Houston.