Take Charge Indy to make return to WinStar Farm after Korean sojourn

WinStar Farm has initiated the process to return Take Charge Indy to the US for the 2020 breeding season, it was announced on Saturday.

WinStar stood the ten-year-old son of A.P. Indy out of multiple Grade 1 winner and Graded stakes producer Take Charge Lady for his first three seasons at stud, during which he bred an average of 133 mares per year. He was sold in November 2016 to the Korea Racing Authority, with an option for the Kentucky operation to buy him back.

Take Charge Indy is currently the top-ranked third-crop sire in North America, with more than $4.4 million in progeny earnings, and stands at number 31 on the general sire list, behind only Malibu Moon and ahead of Flatter, Mineshaft and Bernardini as leading sons of A.P. Indy standing in North America.

"Everywhere I go breeders ask me about Take Charge Indy, especially since he's the leading third-crop sire and number 31 on the general sire list," said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar.

"With a strong demand for proven sires, we're excited to announce that Take Charge Indy will be returning to Kentucky for the 2020 breeding season."

Take Charge Indy's top runners in 2019 include Long Range Toddy, winner of a division of this year's Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park and earner of $918,559 to date; Preakness Stakes and Holy Bull Stakes runner-up Everfast; multiple Graded stakes-placed Motion Emotion, and stakes winner and Graded stakes-placed Pole Setter.

The second-ranked second-crop sire of 2018 with progeny earnings of $4.77m, Take Charge Indy ranked first by stakes winners last year with ten. Numbered among his black-type winners a year ago were Noble Indy, winner of the Louisiana Derby; Forward Gal Stakes winner Take Charge Paula, four-time stakes winner Split Time, and Long Range Toddy, a two-time stakes winner at two.

Take Charge Indy will be included in the WinStar Incentive Network (WIN), which has already awarded more than $3.6m to breeders.

A Graded stakes performer at two on the track, Take Charge Indy captured his biggest win in the $1m Florida Derby in 2012 at Gulfstream Park. He went on to take the Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs as a four-year-old before he retired with earnings of $1,103,496.

He is a half brother to Will Take Charge, the 2013 Eclipse champion three-year-old and five-time Graded stakes winner who stands at Three Chimneys Farm.

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