After Take Charge Indy finished second to Shackleford in last month's Clark Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs, trainer Pat Byrne said he hoped the Florida Derby (gr. I) winner would return in 2013.
Byrne will get his wish.
Take Charge Indy will remain in training for 2013 and winter in South Florida to train for his 4-year-old campaign, which is expected to include a start in the Feb. 9 Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park as an initial goal.
"We're extremely excited to bring back Take Charge Indy as a 4-year-old, and really look forward to big things to come," Byrne said. "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 again for the winter and target him for the Donn."
Campaigned by owners Chuck and Maribeth Sandford, Take Charge Indy currently has earnings of $821,824 on the track. His biggest win to date came in the $1 million Florida Derby over a field that included grade I winner Union Rags .
By A.P. Indy, Take Charge Indy is out of three-time grade I winner Take Charge Lady. Kenny Troutt's WinStar Farm near Versailles, Ky. will stand the colt at the completion of his racing career.