Take Charge Lady (USA)
February 4, 1999 – 2018
Dehere (USA) x Felicita (USA), by Rubiano (USA)
Family 22-c
February 4, 1999 – 2018
Dehere (USA) x Felicita (USA), by Rubiano (USA)
Family 22-c
Take Charge Lady liked Keeneland better than any other track; in five starts there, she never lost. Those victories included all three of her Grade 1 wins as well as a Grade 2. Elsewhere, Take Charge Lady was still a good stakes filly, taking four graded races and placing in four Grade 1 events at other tracks. As good as she was as a racer, she was better still as a broodmare, producing three Grade 1 winners (including a champion) and a multiple Grade 1 producer. The 2013 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, Take Charge Lady’s long-term influence remains to be seen as she has several daughters still in production and also has young granddaughters coming into the paddocks.
Race record
22 starts, 11 wins, 7 seconds, 0 thirds, US$2,480,377
2001:
2002:
2003:
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 2001, 7 pounds below divisional champion Tempera.
Rated at 116 pounds on the 2002 International Classifications for 3-year-olds, 12 pounds below overall highweight Rock of Gibraltar and 4 pounds below the top-rated filly, Bright Sky.
Rated at 115 pounds on the 2003 International Classifications, 18 pounds below overall highweight Hawk Wing and 8 pounds below the top-rated filly or mare, Azeri.
As an individual
A lanky bay mare with flat muscling, Take Charge Lady had a deep shoulder and girth and prominent withers. Her hind leg was strong and straight. She handled both fast and sloppy tracks well and was an honest and consistent performer. During her 3-year-old season, she was repeatedly troubled by lung infections.
As a producer
Take Charge Lady produced 10 named foals, of which nine started and eight won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Take Charge Lady was bred by William Schettine. Sold for US$175,000 at the 2000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July sale, she was owned by Select Stable (Jerry and Faye Bach) and was trained by Kenny McPeek. In 2004, Take Charge Lady, then in foal to Seeking the Gold, sold for US$4.2 million to Eaton Sales at the Keeneland November mixed sale. All of her foals were bred by Eaton except her last, As Time Goes By, who was bred by Orpendale and Chelston. Take Charge Lady died of complications of foaling in 2018.
Pedigree notes
Take Charge Lady is inbred 4x5 to the great international sire Northern Dancer and 5x5 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah. She is a half sister to multiple New York-bred stakes winner Eventail (by Lear Fan), dam of Canadian Grade 2 winner Straight Story (by Giant’s Causeway) and multiple Japanese listed stakes winner Strong Souther (by Heart’s Cry), and to Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Commendation (by Capote).
Take Charge Lady is out of unraced Felicita, a half sister to Irish hurdle stakes winner Rogerdor (by Tom Rolfe). Felicita is also a half sister to She’s Got Class (by Trempolino), dam of 2010 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (USA-G2) winner Chamberlain Bridge (by War Chant).
Felicita and her siblings are out of the winner Grand Bonheur, a Blushing Groom half sister to Irish listed stakes winner God’s Mark (by Little Current) and to Star Magic (by Youth), dam of listed stakes winner Nudist Colony (by Pleasant Colony). The next dam in Take Charge Lady’s tail-female line is multiple stakes-placed Director (by Swaps). Produced from the multiple stakes-placed Double Jay mare Times Two, Director is a half sister to multiple juvenile stakes winners Heisanative (by Raise a Native) and Two Timing Lass (by Prince John). The last-named mare is the dam of Canadian Grade 3 winner Cost Control (by Intrepid Hero), and Director is also a half sister to Predate (by Nashua), dam of 1973 Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G1) winner My Gallant (by Gallant Man) and to Quadruple (by Fleet Nasrullah), dam of French Group 3 winner Tobin Lad (by J. O. Tobin) and stakes winners La Jalouse (by Nijinsky II) and Stephanie Leigh (by Northern Dancer) and second dam of 1998 Canadian champion juvenile filly Fantasy Lake, multiple Grade 2 winner Why Change, and Grade 3 winner Jetto. In addition, Director is a half sister to Regal Twin (by Majestic Prince), dam of multiple Hungarian champion Rokoko (by Scenic) and second dam of multiple Group 2 winner Don’t Worry Me and Scandinavian Group 3 winner Montalban.
Books and media
Abigail Anderson has an excellent post on Take Charge Lady at her blog The Vault (https://thevaulthorseracing.wordpress.com/2014/12/16/shes-just-magic-take-charge-lady/) it includes links to video clips of important races for Take Charge Lady and her sons Take Charge Indy and Will Take Charge.
Fun facts
Last updated: September 13, 2023
Race record
22 starts, 11 wins, 7 seconds, 0 thirds, US$2,480,377
2001:
- Won Walmac International Alcibiades Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
- 2nd Golden Rod Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
2002:
- Won Ashland Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
- Won Overbrook Spinster Stakes (USA-G1. 9FD, Keeneland)
- Won Fair Grounds Oaks (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
- Won Silverbulletday Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
- Won Dogwood Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won NTRA Great State Challenge Invitational Distaff Stakes (USA-L, 8.5FD, Houston)
- 2nd Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1. 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Gazelle Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Falls City Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
2003:
- Won Overbrook Spinster Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Keeneland)
- Won Arlington Matron Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Apple Blossom Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Oaklawn Park)
- 2nd Ogden Phipps Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Delaware Handicap (USA-G2, 10FD, Delaware Park)
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 2001, 7 pounds below divisional champion Tempera.
Rated at 116 pounds on the 2002 International Classifications for 3-year-olds, 12 pounds below overall highweight Rock of Gibraltar and 4 pounds below the top-rated filly, Bright Sky.
Rated at 115 pounds on the 2003 International Classifications, 18 pounds below overall highweight Hawk Wing and 8 pounds below the top-rated filly or mare, Azeri.
As an individual
A lanky bay mare with flat muscling, Take Charge Lady had a deep shoulder and girth and prominent withers. Her hind leg was strong and straight. She handled both fast and sloppy tracks well and was an honest and consistent performer. During her 3-year-old season, she was repeatedly troubled by lung infections.
As a producer
Take Charge Lady produced 10 named foals, of which nine started and eight won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Charming (2005, by Seeking the Gold) won one of her three starts. She is the dam of 2014 American champion 2-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi (by Giant’s Causeway; dam of listed stakes winner Courvoisier, by Tapit) and of multiple Grade 1 winner Omaha Beach (by War Front).
- Take Charge Indy (2009, by A.P. Indy) won the 2012 Florida Derby (USA-G1).
- Will Take Charge (2010, by Unbridled’s Song) was the American champion 3-year-old male of 2013.
- I'll Take Charge (2012, by Indian Charlie) won one of her five starts. She is the dam of 2022 Dwyer Stakes (USA-G3) winner Charge It (by Tapit).
- As Time Goes By (2017, by American Pharoah) won the 2022 Beholder Mile Stakes (USA-G1).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Take Charge Lady was bred by William Schettine. Sold for US$175,000 at the 2000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July sale, she was owned by Select Stable (Jerry and Faye Bach) and was trained by Kenny McPeek. In 2004, Take Charge Lady, then in foal to Seeking the Gold, sold for US$4.2 million to Eaton Sales at the Keeneland November mixed sale. All of her foals were bred by Eaton except her last, As Time Goes By, who was bred by Orpendale and Chelston. Take Charge Lady died of complications of foaling in 2018.
Pedigree notes
Take Charge Lady is inbred 4x5 to the great international sire Northern Dancer and 5x5 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah. She is a half sister to multiple New York-bred stakes winner Eventail (by Lear Fan), dam of Canadian Grade 2 winner Straight Story (by Giant’s Causeway) and multiple Japanese listed stakes winner Strong Souther (by Heart’s Cry), and to Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Commendation (by Capote).
Take Charge Lady is out of unraced Felicita, a half sister to Irish hurdle stakes winner Rogerdor (by Tom Rolfe). Felicita is also a half sister to She’s Got Class (by Trempolino), dam of 2010 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (USA-G2) winner Chamberlain Bridge (by War Chant).
Felicita and her siblings are out of the winner Grand Bonheur, a Blushing Groom half sister to Irish listed stakes winner God’s Mark (by Little Current) and to Star Magic (by Youth), dam of listed stakes winner Nudist Colony (by Pleasant Colony). The next dam in Take Charge Lady’s tail-female line is multiple stakes-placed Director (by Swaps). Produced from the multiple stakes-placed Double Jay mare Times Two, Director is a half sister to multiple juvenile stakes winners Heisanative (by Raise a Native) and Two Timing Lass (by Prince John). The last-named mare is the dam of Canadian Grade 3 winner Cost Control (by Intrepid Hero), and Director is also a half sister to Predate (by Nashua), dam of 1973 Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G1) winner My Gallant (by Gallant Man) and to Quadruple (by Fleet Nasrullah), dam of French Group 3 winner Tobin Lad (by J. O. Tobin) and stakes winners La Jalouse (by Nijinsky II) and Stephanie Leigh (by Northern Dancer) and second dam of 1998 Canadian champion juvenile filly Fantasy Lake, multiple Grade 2 winner Why Change, and Grade 3 winner Jetto. In addition, Director is a half sister to Regal Twin (by Majestic Prince), dam of multiple Hungarian champion Rokoko (by Scenic) and second dam of multiple Group 2 winner Don’t Worry Me and Scandinavian Group 3 winner Montalban.
Books and media
Abigail Anderson has an excellent post on Take Charge Lady at her blog The Vault (https://thevaulthorseracing.wordpress.com/2014/12/16/shes-just-magic-take-charge-lady/) it includes links to video clips of important races for Take Charge Lady and her sons Take Charge Indy and Will Take Charge.
Fun facts
- Take Charge Lady is one of only three fillies or mares to have won all three of Keeneland’s major events for fillies and mares on the dirt (the Alcibiades Stakes for juveniles, the Ashland Stakes for 3-year-olds, and the Spinster Stakes for ages 3 and up), a feat that earned her the title of the “Queen of Keeneland.” The other distaffers to accomplish the triple are two-time American champion filly Doubledogdare and Optimistic Gal.
- Take Charge Lady was a marked success as a dam of both racehorses and sales horses. Her progeny earned US$6,224,809 on the track, and the six foals who were sold at auction as weanlings or yearlings collectively brought US$9,910,000.
Last updated: September 13, 2023