Likely Foster Handicap favorite puts in workout

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Louisville, KY (Sports Network) - Take Charge Indy, winner of the Alysheba and probable race favorite, had a five-furlong workout Friday at Churchill Downs for next month's Stephen Foster Handicap.

Trained by Pat Byrne, Take Charge Indy went the five furlongs in 1:03 4/5 with jockey Rosie Napravnik. The 4-year-old, owned by WinStar Farm and Charles and Maribeth Sandford, galloped out six furlongs in 1:17 3/5.

"He was just stretching his legs," Byrne said. "Elliott Walden (President/CEO of WinStar Farm) and the Sandfords were on hand and everyone walked away delighted.

"I'll probably blow him out three-eighths next weekend."

Take Charge Indy won the Alysheba by six lengths in his third start of the year. He began 2013 with a third in the Donn Handicap and a second in the Skip Away Stakes, both at Gulfstream Park.

Winner of last year's Florida Derby, Take Charge Indy has earned $1,094,133 with three wins in 12 lifetime starts.

Another Foster contender, Successful Dan, is expected to make the trip from Lexington to Churchill Downs for a workout on Saturday. Trained by Charles Lopresti, Successful Dan won the Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland last month in his only start this year.

Pool Play, the 2011 Foster winner, will be back in the race after missing it last year.

"We know he likes the distance and he likes Churchill," trainer Mark Casse said of the 8-year-old. "We also want to keep him safe. That's our number one concern. We pick our spots with him. He's our old guy in the barn."

The winner of the $500,000 handicap is entitled to an automatic entry into the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.