Take Charge Brandi Nearly Ready to Breeze
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As last year's 2-year-old champion male American Pharoah prepares to bid for the Triple Crown June 6 at Belmont Park, the 2-year-old champion female of 2014 is nearly ready to breeze again.
Take Charge Brandi, who back in March almost faced American Pharoah in the Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park, has been recovering from minor surgery to correct a non-displaced bone chip discovered March 10 in her right knee.
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The 3-year-old daughter of Giant's Causeway has been back at Churchill Downs with Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas since he shipped his Oaklawn string to Louisville in April, and is ready to resume breezing again.
"She's been galloping and around the 15th of this month (June), she'll go back to start her workout schedule," owner Willis Horton said. "Three furlongs and up, we're going to bring her back—at least, this is our plan. Of course, anything can happen to your plans."
Take Charge Brandi won four races in a row—the Nov. 1 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), Nov. 22 Delta Downs Princess Stakes (gr. III), Dec. 13 Starlet Stakes (gr. I), and Jan. 31 Martha Washington Stakes—at the end of last season and beginning of 2015.
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After her slight injury was discovered, Dr. Larry Bramlage of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital placed a pin in her knee March 12 and she was back to Lukas' barn a few days later, where she made a full recovery.
Horton said the Aug. 8 Test Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course and the Sept. 19 Cotillion Stakes (gr. I) at Parx Racing are both on the radar for Take Charge Brandi en route to a hopeful start in the Oct. 30 Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) at Keeneland.
"It’s all dependent on how she comes back (into full training)," Horton said. "But Dr. Bramlage said you couldn't even tell she had any surgery, and she is just as good as new, and she’ll be just as good as she ever was."
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A $435,000 purchase from the Paramount Sales consignment at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale, Take Charge Brandi's career record stands at five wins and a second from nine starts with earnings of $1,680,126. She was bred in Kentucky by Charming Syndicate out of the Seeking the Gold mare Charming, a daughter of multiple grade I winner Take Charge Lady.
Horton, who campaigned 3-year-old champion male Will Take Charge , a son of Take Charge Lady, said he's looking forward to getting Take Charge Brandi back to the races.
"Seems like it’s been a year since she ran," he said.