The Enquirer and wire reports

Select Stable's Take Charge Lady is the favorite in today's Grade II $300,000 Falls City Handicap at Churchill Downs in what probably will be her final race.

The 4-year-old filly, trained by Ken McPeek, will be reunited with jockey Tony D'Amico against nine other older fillies and mares in the 1 1/8-mile race.

The Falls City kicks off Churchill Downs' $1.2 million "Big Four Weekend," featuring four major stakes over the final three days of its fall meeting.

First post is 11:30 a.m. today, Friday and Saturday.

Take Charge Lady will team with Northern Kentuckian D'Amico, 47, for the first time since her victory in the Dogwood at Churchill Downs in June last year.

D'Amico was aboard Take Charge Lady for the first 10 races of her career, six of which were victories, for owners Jerry and Feye Bach of Cincinnati. Those included a win in the Ashland at Keeneland, the only Grade I triumph of D'Amico's career, and a runner-up finish to Farda Amiga in Kentucky Oaks.

"Riding her has been one of the biggest thrills of my career," D'Amico said. "She's probably one of the best fillies I've sat on. It's great to be in the limelight, and she's one of the best things to happen to me in my career."

Take Charge Lady, a two-time winner of Keeneland's Spinster, was assigned high weight of 123 pounds for the Falls City and will concede from 7 to 13 pounds to her opponents.

She finished a disappointing sixth in last month's Breeders' Cup Distaff at Santa Anita but has a career record of 11-7-0 in 21 races and has earned $2,470,351.

Take Charge Lady, runner-up to Allamerican Bertie in the 2002 Falls City, was installed the early 6-5 favorite for this year's race by oddsmaker Mike Battaglia.

RIVER DOWNS: The $200,000 Miller Genuine Draft Cradle Stakes for 2-year-olds has been awarded Grade III status for 2004 by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. The Labor Day race was one of six races upgraded to Grade III status by the TOBA graded-stakes committee.

TURFWAY PARK: Emily Ring will defend her title against Don't Countess Out and Born to Dance in the 6-furlong $50,000 Holiday Inaugural Stakes on Sunday, opening day of the Florence track's holiday meet. First post is 1:10 p.m.

Tennis

DAVIS CUP: Former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt of Australia will play Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain to open the Davis Cup final Friday on a temporary grass court at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

Mark Philippoussis, Australia's No. 1 player, will take on Carlos Moya in the second singles Friday. On Saturday, Feliciano Lopez and Alex Corretja will lead Spain in doubles against Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs. In Sunday's reverse singles, Philippoussis plays Ferrero and Moya plays Hewitt. Australia holds a 3-1 edge in Davis Cup finals between the countries.

Golf

NEDBACK: Ernie Els faces a tough field when he tries to become the first four-time winner at Sun City, South Africa. The South African will be joined by former champions Nick Price and Sergio Garcia as well as Vijay Singh. Singh has replaced Els as the world's No. 2 player behind Tiger Woods, and he showed an excellent touch at the Presidents Cup that ended in a tie between the U.S. and international teams.

NHL

KINGS: Ziggy Palffy, fifth in the NHL with 26 points and tied for the league lead with 20 assists, was placed on the injured list after being hit in the face with a puck.

RED WINGS: Dominik Hasek's groin injury will keep him sidelined at least another week.