Take Charge Lady In Charge at Fair Grounds

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Take Charge Lady took control at the start of the $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes at the Fair Grounds on Saturday and never looked back, equaling the course record while romping to victory in the grade III race for 3-year-old fillies. Ridden by John Court, Take Charge Lady finished the 1 1/16-mile race on fast track in 1:42.09, 8 1/2 lengths ahead of runner-up Charmed Gift.

"She was really on her game today," Court said. "Even in the post parade she had running on her mind. She dominated the race from the beginning. She relaxed when I asked her to and she gave me a run when I called on her. She would have probably given me more but we didn't need it."

The winning time equals the track record for the distance when regarded in fifths of a second set by Pie In You Eye and equaled by Concerned Minister.

"She was awesome," said trainer Ken McPeek by telephone from Gulfstream Park where he saddled Harlan's Holiday prior to a second-place finish in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. "I was very impressed. She's always been a classy filly. She definitely seemed to like the track."

Take Charge Lady paid $5.20 to win, $3 to place and $2.40 to show. Charmed Gift paid $3.20 and $2.80. Third-place Chamrousse returned $3.20. The winning exacta paid $24.40.

Favored Lake Lady finished fourth, well clear of a trailing Academic Angel. Broad Harbor was scratched.

Take Charge Lady (Dehere -- Felicita, by Rubaino) sold for $175,000 as a yearling and earned $90,000 for Saturday's win, her fourth in six starts. The Select Stable's filly previously won the Walmac International Alcibiades Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland last year. William Schettine bred her in Kentucky. (Chart, Equibase)

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