Take Charge Indy to race at four

Take Charge Indy will stay in training and point for the Donn Handicap (Adam Coglianese Photography)

Take Charge Indy, winner of this year’s Grade 1 Florida Derby and recent
runner-up in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap, will remain in training for 2013 and
winter in South Florida to train for his four-year-old campaign, which is
expected to include a start in the February 9 Grade 1 Donn Handicap as an
initial goal.

WinStar Farm acquired the breeding rights on the regally-bred son of A.P.
Indy, and will stand the colt at the completion of his racing career.

“We’re extremely excited to bring back Take Charge Indy as a four-year-old,
and really look forward to big things to come,” trainer Pat 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. His biggest win to date came in the $1 million Florida
Derby over a field that included classic winner Union Rags. Most recently, Take
Charge Indy was second, beaten a length, by Shackleford in the November 23 Clark
at Churchill.