Take Charge Milady bests Immersive in Monomoy Girl

Take Charge Milady handed champion filly Immersive her first career loss Saturday in the $168,450 Monomoy Girl S. at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/16-mile Monomoy Girl marked the comeback spot for Immersive, who had been unraced since clinching champion juvenile filly honors last November in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), her third Grade 1 win of the year. Immersive was sidelined last winter due to bone bruising and was unable to contest last month's Kentucky Oaks (G1), which was won by stablemate Good Cheer.

Take Charge Milady, after winning the Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn and finishing second in the Ashland (G1) during the spring, did contest the Oaks. However, quarter crack issues leading up to the race compromised her chances and she stayed near the rear of the field throughout the 1 1/8-mile Oaks.

The Monomoy Girl proved a different experience for Take Charge Milady. Enjoying a trouble-free outside journey, and with the advantage of recent racing, the daughter of Take Charge Indy had enough to topple Immersive after a prolonged stretch duel by a neck.

Immersive, who was bottled up for much of the race and who had some difficulty getting through inside of tiring pacesetter Anna's Promise turning for home, fought bravely but proved second best as the favorite at odds approximating 2-5. She finished 11 lengths ahead of Anna's Promise, while Princess Aliyah trailed throughout in the field of four three-year-old fillies.

Owned in partnership by James Ball, Magdalena Racing, and Kenneth Rhodes, Take Charge Milady finished up in 1:43.17 over a fast track and paid $10.22. She is trained by Kenny McPeek.

Bred in Kentucky by Merribelle Stable and sold for $80,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, Take Charge Milady was produced by Price Too High, a daughter of Scat Daddy. She's now won three of eight starts.