Golden Rod Fillies Work at Churchill

The 2-year-old fillies that figure to be the favorites for the Nov. 24 $200,000 Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs completed their serious training for the 1 1/16-mile, grade II race with Tuesday breezes at Churchill.

Take Charge Lady and Belterra worked over a track that was rated good following a Monday rain that provided the first significant precipitation in the area for the month of November. Select Stable's Take Charge Lady, trained by Ken McPeek, breezed four furlongs in :48 2/5 under regular jockey Tony D'Amico.

"We just wanted to get a little maintenance breeze in her," D'Amico said. "She just did it really easy and was well within herself."

The Dehere filly won the Walmac Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland but faded in the stretch to finish sixth behind Godolphin's Tempera in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. D'Amico said Take Charge Lady clearly disliked the track at Belmont Park.

"You can tell just getting on her what a different filly she is; she just handles this track so much better," he said.

Robert Manfuso's Belterra, an unbeaten daughter of the late Unbridled, breezed five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 under exercise rider Tracy Wilkes. Belterra, trained by Carl Nafzger, is coming off a 10 1/4-length win in a one-mile allowance race at Churchill.

Along with Take Charge Lady and Belterra, the prospective field for the Golden Rod is expected to include Pocahontas winner Lotta Rhythm, Arlington-Washington Lassie and Bassinet winner Joanie's Bella, Bema, Blissful Kiss, Born to Dance, and Literary Light.