Take Charge Lady On Track with Sharp Half-Mile Work

Clockers caught grade I winner Take Charge Lady working a half-mile in :47 4/5 on the main track at Saratoga Friday morning after the break.

Under Lorna Vanderford, the three-year-old filly went the first three furlongs in :34 2/5.

"We were looking for a comfortable three-eighths," said her trainer, Kenny McPeek. "It was fun to watch; it was a very impressive work. This filly is unbelievably exceptional. She has gears upon gears."

Take Charge Lady won her last start, the Dogwood Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs on May 25th and then went to the farm for freshening. She has won seven times in 10 career starts.

"She was starting to get a little dehydrated," McPeek said. "We gave her four weeks at Longfield Farm and I think the timing couldn't have been better."

The bay filly's next start will likely be in the grade I, $250,000 Gazelle Handicap for three-year-old fillies at nine furlongs on Woodward Day Sept. 7 at Belmont Park. The ultimate goal is the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Arlington Park on Oct. 26.

McPeek, who celebrated his 40th birthday Friday, is also high on the progress of Repent. The Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner had surgery April 15 to remove an ankle chip following a second-place finish to War Emblem in the Illinois Derby (gr. II).

McPeek has said Repent is 50:50 for the Travers Stakes (gr. I), but also said it was more likely he would stick to his original plan of having Repent start his comeback in the Pennsylvania Derby (gr. III) on Sept. 2.