Challenging First Again will be the lightly raced Edward P. Evans-homebred Charitabledonation. The daughter of Saint Ballado has two wins in three career starts, including a 4 1/4 length win in the April 21 Christmas Past Stakes. The field for the Black-Eyed Susan consists of: Charitabledonation (John Velazquez, 119); Chamrousse (Jerry Bailey, 115); Shop Till You Drop (Harry Vega, 117); Autumn Creek (Phillip Teator, 115); Aly Quatorze (Javier Castellano, 117); Take Charge Lady (SCRATCHED); First Again (Pat Day, 122); and Tamayo (Mark Johnston, 115).
Trainer Ken McPeek said Tuesday morning that Select Stable's Take Charge Lady will not ship to Baltimore for Friday's Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II). The Kentucky Oaks runner-up was discovered to have a minor lung infection Tuesday morning and McPeek said the daughter would be pointed for the May 25 Dogwood Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs. If the daughter of Dehere wins the Dogwood, she would likely go on to the Mother Goose."She's got some mucous that showed up when we scoped her," McPeek said. "It's the change in weather. The vet said we will need 3-4 days with her." Temperatures in Kentucky have fluctuated between extremely hot and cool in the past week. The defection of Take Charge Lady leaves WinStar Farms First Again as the starting 122-pound highweight. In her latest effort, First Again finished fourth, 9 1/2 lengths behind winner Emeraldforajudge, in the April 27 National Jockey Club Oaks at Sportsman's Park. Previous to that race, she was fourth in Take Charge Lady's Ashland Stakes victory.