Take Charge Lady Works Strongly at Churchill

Select Stable's Take Charge Lady took aim on an expected start in the $250,000-added Falls City Handicap (gr. II) Nov. 28 with a sharp five-furlong work on Friday over her home track at Churchill Downs.

The Ken McPeek-trained Dehere filly breezed the distance over a "fast" track in 1:00 under jockey Tony D'Amico. The work, second-fastest of 38 at the distance, was the first for Take Charge Lady since her disappointing sixth-place finish behind Azeri in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) on Oct. 26 at Arlington Park.

A post-race examination revealed that Take Charge Lady had suffered from a minor infection, but McPeek said the problem was cleared up quickly and he was happy with his star filly's first post-race work.

"It was good," said McPeek. "She's fine. We got her dried up. It was just bad timing."

McPeek said Take Charge Lady did not miss any time on the track because of the infection. She got her normal rest and the infection cleared up quickly after treatment.

"She just had a little stuff in her head -- that was it," he said. "I can't imagine her stopping as badly as she did that day, but she did."

The Falls City is the major target on the horizon for Take Charge Lady if all continues to go well. If there should be any kind of minor setback in her training, the $250,000 NTRA Great State Challenge Distaff at Sam Houston Park on Dec. 7 remains a back-up option.

McPeek said Edgar Prado would ride Take Charge Lady in the Falls City.