Trainer Patrick Byrne is looking forward to a Happy New Year, now
that an agreement has been finalized to return
Take Charge Indy to the
races for the 2013 season.
WinStar Farm LLC, which recently purchased 100 percent of the 2012
Florida Derby (G1) winner’s breeding rights, will campaign the
4-year-old colt in partnership with Chuck and Maribeth Sandford LLC this
season.
Take Charge Indy is scheduled to race in the colors of WinStar for
the first time in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (G1) at Gulfstream Park on
Feb. 9.
“It worked well for Patrick Byrne. Not having him in the barn would
be a tough stall to fill. It’s a win-win, situation for everybody,”
Byrne said. “We’re going to have a lot of fun with him this year. He’s
doing everything we expect from him, so we’re looking forward to the
Donn. Is he going to win it? Who knows? But he’ll run his race.”
Take Charge Indy, who is stabled at Palm Meadows Training Center,
demonstrated an affinity for the Gulfstream Park racing surface last
April while capturing the $1 million Florida Derby. His subsequent run
in the Kentucky Derby (G1) was compromised by an injury that caused him
to miss more than five months of racing. The son of A.P. Indy returned
to finish third in the Lafayette (G2) at Keeneland and second behind
Shackleford in the Clark Handicap (G1) at Churchill on Nov. 23.
“He’s doing fantastic,” Byrne said. “We had our second breeze the
other day, just stretching his legs with a half in :49. He’ll have four
more works, I guess, before the Donn.”
Byrne has been impressed with Take Charge Indy’s physical development.
“He’s picked up some good weight going into this 4-year-old year,
and that’s what we like to see as horsemen from any 3-year-old going
into his 4-year-old year,” Byrne said. “They always do well coming into
Florida. They just seem to grow and develop for obvious reasons: the sun
and everything.”
Byrne said no racing schedule has been set for his colt.
“I have no idea where he’ll run after the Donn,” he said. “At the
end of the day, we’re all just trying to make the Breeders’ Cup Classic
at the end of the year.”