Take Charge Indy to make 2013 debut February 9th in Grade 1 Donn Handicap

WinStar Farm’s Take Charge Indy, winner of the year’s Florida Derby (G1) and runner-up in the Clark H. (G1), will make his 2013 debut in the Feb. 9 Donn Handicap (G1) at Gulfstream Park. Trainer Pat Byrne recently slated Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez to ride the 1 1/8-mile contest for older horses.

WinStar Farm, who will campaign the colt in partnership with original owners Chuck and Maribeth Sandford, acquired the breeding rights for the 4-year-old son of A.P. Indy last summer, and will stand the colt at the completion of his racing career.

“We’re extremely excited to bring back Take Charge Indy as a 4-year-old, and really look forward to big things to come,” said Byrne last month. “He is just now rounding back into top form, and we believe he can be a leading older horse in 2013. His Clark performance gives us a lot of confidence going forward, and he couldn’t have bounced out of that race any better than he did. We’ll go down to Palm Meadows (in south Florida) again for the winter and target him for the Donn.”

Take Charge Indy currently has career earnings of $821,824. He defeated Grade 1 winner Union Rags in the $1 million Florida Derby. Most recently, Take Charge Indy was second, beaten a length by multiple Grade 1 winning older horse Shackleford in the Clark H. at Churchill Downs.

By legendary sire of sires A.P. Indy, Kentucky-bred Take Charge Indy is out of three-time Grade 1 winner Take Charge Lady.