A Perfect ‘Lady at Keeneland

Before she takes another crack at the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, in which she finished sixth last year at Arlington Park, Take Charge Lady will try to win another at her favorite track.

Perfect in four starts at Keeneland, the 4-year-old Dehere filly heads a field of six in today’s $500,000 Spinster, a Grade I at 1 1/8 miles.

Owned by Select Stable and trained by Ken McPeek, Take Charge Lady, who will be ridden by Edgar Prado, broke her maiden in her first start, winning by 4 1/4 lengths on April 19, 2001, at Keeneland.

Nearly six months later, she won in the Alcibiades, then earned her other Keeneland victories in the Ashland on April 6, 2002, and in the Spinster six months later.

The field includes three others who have won at Keeneland: Miss Linda, who won the 2001 Spinster at nearly 22-1, Desert Gold and Reason to Talk.

You and Printemps, who will be ridden by Corey Nakatani, are the other scheduled participants.

Two races earlier, Wonder Again, who scored her first win of the year in a Grade III two weeks ago at Belmont Park, tops a field of six in the $500,000 Winstar Galaxy at 1 3/16 miles on the turf.

Race of the day: Yankee Gentleman, impressive in two victories at Del Mar, heads the field in the $200,000 Ancient Title Breeders’ Cup Handicap, the major local prep for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

One for the road: Elegant Mercedes won big in her first race after a claim by trainer Richard Dutrow Jr., and she could come right back in today’s fifth race at Belmont Park.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Special Ring and Designed for Luck in the eighth, singling Withholding Info in the ninth and using the Odds On-Consecrate entry, Siphonizer and Ruler’s Court in the 10th.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 1/15. Money: Previous day/meet total: $5.60/$66. Total money bet: $88.