Take Charge Brandi Not Entered in Honeybee
Image:
Description:
Oaklawn Park officials said Take Charge Brandi appears headed for a showdown against top 3-year-old males in the $750,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) March 14, as last year's champion 2-year-old filly on March 4 was not entered in the $150,000 Honeybee Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies set for March 7.
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas told Oaklawn officials last week that Take Charge Brandi would be entered in the Honeybee, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies. But it became apparent March 2 that Take Charge Brandi wouldn't be entered in the Honeybee and instead point for the 1 1/16-mile Rebel, a major Kentucky Derby prep.
About four hours after Take Charge Brandi worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 Monday morning, owner Willis Horton said it had been "pretty much" decided that the filly would run in the Rebel and Lukas was shopping for a rider. Horton's preference throughout the process was to run in the Rebel. Jon Court rode the filly to victory in the Martha Washington Stakes, her 3-year-old debut Jan. 31 at Oaklawn.
"I really want to find out how good she is," Horton said. "If she can beat the boys, I think her better chance of doing that is early rather than later in the year, because the boys will start really gaining. I'm just wanting to take a chance on beating the boys. I'm just trying to build her resume up."
Lukas has maintained since December that Take Charge Brandi is being pointed for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), not the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). A top placing in the Rebel could give the filly an opportunity to start in the Derby, as the Rebel offers Derby points to the top four placers (50-20-10-5). Take Charge Brandi has won 5-of-9 career starts and earned $1,680,126. She has won four consecutive races.
The presence of Take Charge Brandi further enhances a blockbuster March 14 program at the Hot Springs, Ark. oval. Also scheduled to run in the Rebel is 2-year-old champion male American Pharoah.