Take Charge Lady Favored Over Nine Rivals In 128th Kentucky Oaks

		4.30.2002	Photo By: Jeremy Lyverse
		Select Stable's Take Charge Lady (above) relaxed on trainer Kenny McPeek's shedrow at Churchill Downs on Apr. 30, awaiting an engagement in the Kentucky Oaks (GI) on May 3. The daughter of Dehere, who was an emphatic winner of the $500,000 Ashland Stakes (GI) at Keeneland in her last start, was installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite in Oaks 128 over a group of nine stellar rivals by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia.

Louisville, KY (April 30, 2002) - Select Stable's Take Charge Lady, an emphatic winner of the $500,000 Ashland Stakes (Grade I) at Keeneland and unbeaten in three races this year, heads an elite field of 10 3-year-old fillies entered in Friday's 128th running of the $500,000 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.

Churchill Downs' oddsmaker Mike Battaglia has installed the Ken McPeek-trained daughter of Dehere as the 2-1 morning-line choice over a group of nine stellar rivals that includes Michael Tabor's Bella Belluci

(3-1), Edmund Gann's You (7-2), and Godolphin's Imperial Gesture (4-1). The 1 1/8-mile race, known as the "Kentucky Derby For Fillies," is the sister race to the Kentucky Derby and both races date to the inaugural day of racing at Churchill Downs, then known as the Louisville Jockey Club, on May 17, 1875. The Kentucky Oaks trails only the Kentucky Derby in attendance at American racing events and attracted a crowd of 102,904 last year - the second-largest attendance in its history and the third consecutive year in which the race has drawn more than 100,000 fans.

The Kentucky Oaks headlines a 10-race card that includes four other stakes races and is scheduled as the day's ninth race with a post time of 5:43 p.m. (all times EDT). Admission gates open at 8 a.m.

Take Charge Lady, who has won her three races in 2002 by a combined margin of 17 3/4 lengths, drew post nine and will be ridden by regular rider Tony D'Amico, who will be seeking his first Oaks win. McPeek was pleased to see his filly draw an outside post.

"If she gets stuck inside of a fast pace, she tends to be a little bit more aggressive," McPeek said. "When she's on the outside she relaxes better. I think it increases her chances pretty dramatically being that she's on the outside."

A victory by Take Charge Lady in the 128th Oaks would start what could be a historic weekend for McPeek, who is participating in his first Kentucky Oaks and will saddle the likely morning-line favorite in Saturday's Kentucky Derby in Starlight Stable's Harlan's Holiday. The last trainer to win both races in the same year was racing legend Ben A. Jones of Calumet Farm, who won the Oaks with Real Delight and the Derby with Hill Gail in 1952.

"I try to take them one at a time," McPeek said. "If it happens it happens, if it doesn't it doesn't. It's exciting to be able to have a shot at it."

Take Charge Lady has a record of 6-1-0 in eight races and has earned $1,017,521 for the Select Stable, which is owned by Jerry and Feye Bach of Cincinnati, Ohio.

The next three fillies in the Kentucky Oaks morning line represent owners and trainers that could also bid for the Oaks/Derby sweep. Comely (GIII) winner Bella Bellucci is trained by Neil Drysdale, who also trains Derby contender Sunday Break. Santa Anita Oaks (GI) winner You is trained by Bobby Frankel, who also conditions Gann's Kentucky Derby hope Medaglia d'Oro. Saeed bin Suroor is the trainer of Imperial Gesture, the stablemate of Godolphin's Derby contender Essence of Dubai. Gann and Godolphin are bidding to be the first owner to sweep both races since Calumet's feat 50 years ago.

The 128th Kentucky Oaks will be televised live on ESPN and a live local telecast is available on WAVE-3.

Quotes from Ken McPeek:

You said you wanted an outside post for Take Charge Lady...

"If she gets stuck inside of a fast pace, she tends to be a little more aggressive. If she's on the outside, she relaxes better. I think it increases her chances pretty dramatically being that she's on the outside. I just did not want her on the inside. I think she gets a little bit 'speedy' down in there."

Do you anticipate a race like the Ashland, in which Take Charge Lady laid just off the pace, or will you just see how it unfolds?

"We'll just see how it unfolds. We'll let Tony (jockey Tony D'Amico) decide and I'm sure he'll be able to play it out as he thinks. He knows her well."

The Oaks is step one in what could be a historic weekend for you - the last time a trainer won both the Oaks and the Derby was Calumet Farm's Ben Jones in 1952 and you will be the morning line favorite in both races...

"I'm trying to take them one at a time. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, it doesn't. It's exciting to be able to have a shot at it, though."

Are you concerned about track conditions for the race?

"I'm hoping that it doesn't rain. She'll run in the mud, but I don't think she's fond of it."