Rebel Still Possible for Take Charge Brandi
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Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said he hopes to breeze champion filly Take Charge Brandi March 2 at Oaklawn Park in preparation for her next start, possibly against males in the $750,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) March 14.
"At this point," Lukas said late Sunday morning, he still plans to enter Take Charge Brandi in the $150,000 Honeybee Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies March 7, a move that will allow he and owner Willis Horton more time to analyze the prospective Rebel field.
Post positions for the 1 1/16-mile Honeybee will be drawn Wednesday morning. Horton has said his preference is to test his Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old filly against males in the 1 1/16-mile Rebel. Lukas said has said that even though she is a Triple Crown nominee, the Kentucky Oaks May 1 at Churchill Downs is Take Charge Brandi's main spring target, with preps in the Honeybee and Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) April 4, both at Oaklawn.
Take Charge Brandi, a daughter of Giant's Causeway , galloped the morning of Feb. 26 at Oaklawn, but the track was closed for training Friday and Saturday. Lukas had mentioned working the filly over the weekend, but decided not take any of his horses to the track Sunday morning when Oaklawn reopened for training. The surface was rated muddy Sunday by clockers.
"We'll work tomorrow if the track's good," Lukas said. "If it isn't, then we won't work at all."
Despite not going to the track the last three days, Lukas said the interruption would not impact Take Charge Brandi's next start, whether it's the Honeybee or Rebel.
"You're always concerned about setbacks this time of the year, but a day or two doesn't make any difference," Lukas said. "But you'd like to run on the day you train for."
Take Charge Brandi won the Martha Washington Stakes Jan. 31 in her 3-year-old debut.