Florida
Derby (GI) winner Take Charge Indy continued his preparations for
Friday’s $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) with
a three-furlong workout over the fast main track at Churchill Downs on Sunday
morning.
Chuck
and Maribeth Sandford LLC’s
Take Charge Indy recorded opening fractions of :12 and :24 in the three-eighths
move and galloped out four furlongs in :47.80.
“He
did it well and (exercise rider) Johnny (Byrne) said he did it in
hand,” trainer Pat Byrne said.
It
was the second published workout for Take Charge Indy since he finished third
behind Newsdad in the Fayette (GII) at Keeneland in his first start
since finishing 19th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum!
Brands (GI).
“He
got so much out of (the Fayette),” Byrne said. “I bet he’s five or six lengths
better (now). I was so apprehensive going into the Fayette off a six-month
layoff, but I could only train him so much. He nearly pulled it off.”
Also
working for Byrne on Sunday was Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) hopeful Positively,
who finished second behind Uncaptured in the Iroquois (GIII). A bay son
of Distorted Humor, Positively breezed three furlongs in :35, the fastest move
of six at the distance.
“He
went very well, too, and cooled out great,” Byrne said. “We’re looking forward
to having a good Thanksgiving (week).”
Another
Clark worker on Sunday was A. Stevens Miles Jr.’s homebred Neck ’n
Neck, who breezed five furlongs in 1:02.80 and recorded fractions of
:13.60, :26.80, :38.80 and :51 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.80 and
seven furlongs in 1:29.60.
Trained
by Ian Wilkes, Neck ’n Neck most recently won the Ack Ack Handicap
(GIII) at Churchill Downs by 2 ¼ lengths over Fort Loudon.