Take Charge Lady Gets Revenge, Wins Ashland For Fun

A dominating win in Saturday's Ashland Stakes (GI) at Keeneland has probably made Select Stable's Take Charge Lady the favorite in the May 3 Kentucky Oaks (GI).

The Ken McPeek-trained daughter of Dehere rallied from just off the pace to win by 4 1/4-lengths over the Carl Nafzger-trained duo of Take The Cake and Belterra. Take Charge Lady, ridden by Tony D'Amico, completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.29 on a "fast" track as she won for the sixth time in eight races.

"This filly has really developed," said D'Amico. "She's so much bigger and stronger now. She's incredible. I don't think we'll have any problem with the mile and an eighth in the Kentucky Oaks."

The win avenged a loss to Belterra in last fall's Golden Rod (GII) at Churchill Downs. Take Charge Lady is unbeaten in three starts since that setback.

The victory was also the first in a Grade I race for D'Amico, a 46-year-old veteran who has been riding for 28 years. D'Amico has endured a bittersweet winter and early spring that has seen him lose the mounts on McPeek's two Kentucky Derby contenders -- Harlan's Holiday and Repent -- and Lane's End Spiral (GII) winner Perfect Drift.

"This race kind of made up for it," said D'Amico. "It takes a lot of the hurt away."

Nafzger said Take The Cake and Belterra would also be pointed toward the Kentucky Oaks.