With an incredible move at the top of the stretch, WinStar Farm’s Take Charge Indy crushed his competition by six lengths in Friday’s $339,900 Alysheba S. (G2) at Churchill Downs.
Take Charge Indy broke very alertly and was on top for the first 100 yards, but longshot Right to Vote was intent on getting the lead, so Rosie Napravnik allowed that one to go on, settling just to his outside. After a sensible half-mile in :48.28, Take Charge Indy began to creep closer to the leader. He took over the top spot outside of the quarter pole, then really turned it on at the head of the stretch to come home a most impressive winner.
Trained by Pat Byrne, Take Charge Indy covered the mile and a sixteenth on a fast main track in 1:41.47, less than half a second off the track record.
The victory was worth $202,308 and increased Take Charge Indy’s earnings to $1,094,132 with a record of 12-3-4-2. It was the first victory for Take Charge Indy since winning the 2012 Florida Derby (G1).
Take Charge Indy is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of A.P. Indy out of the multiple Grade 1 winner Take Charge Lady. Take Charge Indy is a half-brother to Will Take Charge, an entrant in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby (G1).
