Grade 1 finisher Take Charge Milady is set to be bred to Kentucky Derby winner Mystic Dan before she resumes training for the upcoming spring and summer racing season, according to the Daily Racing Form. Trainer Kenny McPeek revealed to DRF that Take Charge Milady, who has claimed victories in both the Martha Washington Stakes and the Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes, is among over 20 mares owned by McPeek or his clients chosen for Mystic Dan’s inaugural breeding season.
Mystic Dan, who secured three major wins including the 2024 Kentucky Derby, earned $15,000 for his first breeding season at Airdrie Stud. The 4-year-old filly, sired by Take Charge Indy, most recently placed seventh out of seven in the muddy Grade 3 Houston Ladies Classic held at Sam Houston Race Park in Texas on January 24.
Purchased as a September yearling at Keeneland for $60,000, Take Charge Milady races under the banner of James Ball, Magdalena Racing, and Kenneth Rose. Throughout her career, she has achieved three wins and two runner-up finishes in 10 starts, accumulating $571,000 in earnings.
Although uncommon, it is not unusual for mares to continue racing while pregnant. In the U.S., pregnant mares may race up to 120 days after conception, and training during the initial four months of pregnancy is generally considered safe, according to Kentucky Equine Research.
In a similar example from 2021, Oleksandra, an Australian mare owned by Team Valor International, won the Grade 3 Poker Stakes at Belmont Park in her final career start, competing against male turf milers. Additionally, Spain, winner of the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, achieved consecutive Grade 2 wins in 2002 as a Storm Cat filly and retired as the then-highest-earning U.S.-based filly. Another notable case is Snowtop Mountain, who, trained by Tom Proctor, claimed minor stakes victories and reportedly won two Group 3 turf races as a colt against Blame in 2012.
For further details, visit drf.com.
This article was originally published by Paulick Report on February 5, 2026, in the News section. Click here to add Paulick Report as your preferred source.
Fan Take: This news highlights the strategic decisions owners and trainers make in balancing breeding and racing careers, emphasizing the value of top talent like Take Charge Milady. For fans, it signals the ongoing investment in strengthening bloodlines, which could elevate the quality of future racing competitions.
