Takeitandrun rallies in Strong Tide Handicap at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Takeitandrun and Fernando De La Cruz knew what to do to score the win in the second running of the $55,000 Strong Tide Handicap Wednesday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

The duo led every step of the way to score the victory by open lengths in a time of 1:43.82 in the one and one-sixteenth mile race.

Takeitandrun got the cue from De La Cruz, current leading rider, to live up to his name. The gelding was out and rolling as soon as the gates opened with the inaugural winner, Kingsbury Road and Santo Sanjur sitting just to his outside in a stalking position through most of the race.

Around the final turn, both horses picked up the tempo and were prepared for a battle in the stretch. Takeitandrun made it tough on Kingsbury Road to make up any ground. He continued to lead the way to the wire, opening up by a three-length margin at the finish. Kingsbury Road was a comfortable second over Chicory Blaze and Rodney Prescott for third.

Takeitandrun was the favorite of the field, paying $4.60 for the win. The five-year-old son of Runhappy is owned by Matt Kwiatkowski’s 514 Racing. Tim Eggleston trains the gelding, who is now four for six in 2026.

Overall, Takeitandrun has 10 career wins and more than $268,000 in his bankroll.

The race is named in honor of Indiana bred standout Strong Tide, who was campaigned from the Mike Lauer barn. The English Channel horse won 10 of 45 starts with more than $910,000 in earnings.

The multiple Graded Stakes placed horse is the son of track record holder Dreamin Big, who also performed well for the Lauer barn, winning 11 starts and more than $600,000 before becoming a brood mare at their Finchville, Ky. home.

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