By Bill Heller
In a stunning reversal of form, Robert Rosenthal and Brad Bernstein’s four-year-old homebred filly Bernietakescharge re-rallied under Romero Maragh to beat heavily favored Sterling Silver by a neck in the mile-and-an-eighth Critical Eye Stakes at Saratoga Wednesday. Bernietakescharge, sent off at 9-1 odds, finished fifth by 38 ½ lengths to Sterling Silver, the 1-4 favorite, in the Biogio’s Rose Stakes in her last start at Aqueduct on a muddy track April 6th. Bernietakescharge had won her previous two starts, including an open stakes.
Sterling Silver made a start after the Biogio’s Rose Stakes, finishing a brave second by three-quarters of a length to Jody’s Pride in the Grade 2 Ruffian Stakes on May 10th. She had no excuse under Junior Alvarado Wednesday.
Amanda’s Folly and Jose Ortiz dueled for the early lead with Bernietakescharge through a half-mile in :47.80. Then Bernietakescharge took over as Sterling Silver charged into second.
Sterling Silver closed a two-length gap between her and Bernietakescharge quickly around the far turn and into the top of the stretch. Sterling Silver took a brief lead in mid-stretch, but Bernietakescharge responded immediately and regained the lead in deep stretch. She maintained a narrow lead to the wire, winning in a final time of 1:50.26.
