Eaton Sales' Take Charge Lady, the dam of 2013 champion 3-year-old colt Will Take Charge and grade I winner Take Charge Indy , was honored as Broodmare of the Year by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association at its annual awards luncheon April 17.
A son of Unbridled's Song, Will Take Charge is the best foal produced from the mare, whose progeny have earned more than $4.8 million to date. Take Charge Lady, a multiple grade I-winning daughter of Dehere who earned more than $2.4 million in her racing career, was purchased by Eaton Sales for $4.2 million at the 2004 Keeneland November sale.
Take Charge Lady also has a juvenile Indian Charlie filly named I'll Take Charge that sold for $2.2 million to Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale, and a yearling War Front filly. She is in foal to War Front for 2014.
Also at the luncheon, Wise Dan, a six-time Eclipse Award-winning gelding trained by Charlie LoPresti, was honored as Kentucky-bred Horse of the Year for the second straight time. He also received titles as the state's top turf male and older male.
In 2013, Wise Dan had six wins and a second in seven starts, including four grade I victories on grass—the Breeders' Cup Mile, Ricoh Woodbine Mile, Woodford Reserve Classic, and Makers 46 Mile. He also won the Firecracker and Fourstardave Handicap (both gr. IIT) and finished second in the Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (gr. I) on dirt.
Wise Dan recently made his 2014 debut with another victory in the Makers 46 Mile April 11.
He was among a handful of Kentucky-breds that had also been honored with Eclipse Awards, including two-time Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (gr. IT) winner Groupie Doll.
Following is the complete list of KTOBA champions (with breeders):
2-year old colt: Shared Belief (Pam & Martin Wygod)
2-year-old filly: She's A Tiger (Dr. Rodney Orr)
3-year-old colt: Will Take Charge (Eaton Sales)
3-year-old filly: Beholder (Clarkland Farm)
Older female: Royal Delta (Palides Investments, N.V., Inc.)
Female turf horse: Mizdirection (Joseph J. Perrotta)
Sprinter: Groupie Doll (Fred Bradley and William Bradley)
Steeplechase: Gustavian (Whitewood Stable, Inc.)
Racing abroad: Declaration Of War (Joseph Allen)
In addition to the equine champions, four merit awards were presented to individuals for their contributions to the Kentucky Thoroughbred industry.
P.A.B. Widener Trophy (for KTOB Breeder of the Year): Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey
Hardboot Breeders Award (pays tribute to distinctive but unsung breeders that help make up the
backbone of our industry): Ted Bates
Charles W. Engelhard Award (acknowledges a member of the media for outstanding coverage of the
Thoroughbred industry): Barbara Livingston
William T. Young Humanitarian Award (distinguishes a person in the Thoroughbred industry "who recognizes and promotes the human endeavor"): Warren Rosenthal
Also receiving awards were the top Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund money earners in 2013 in five separate categories:
Sire: Kitten's Joy (Ramsey Farm)
Earner: Temeraine (Niall Racing)
Owner: Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey
Trainer: Michael Maker
Breeder: Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey