Court Picks Up Mount on Take Charge Brandi
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Champion 2-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi will get a new rider when she makes her sophomore debut Jan. 31 at Oaklawn Park, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas first told Mary Rampellini of the Daily Racing Form.
Willis Horton's newly-turned 3-year-old daughter of Giant's Causeway was ridden to victory in the 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenille Fillies (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park Nov. 1 and in the Starlet Stakes (gr. I) Dec. 13 at Los Alamitos by Victor Espinoza. Paco Lopez picked up the mount in between when Take Charge Brandi won the Delta Downs Princess Stakes (gr. III) at Delta Downs.
But Espinoza has committments at home in Southern California on the same day as the $100,000 Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn, a one-mile test for 3-year-old fillies that will serve as Take Charge Brandi's 2015 debut.
Current plans also call for Court to retain the mount for Take Charge Brandi's next target—the $150,000 Honeybee Stakes (gr. III) March 7 at the Arkansas oval, Lukas said Jan. 22.
Take Charge Brandi's most recent breeze was five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 Jan. 18.
Blood-Horse Staff: Champion Take Charge Brandi Works at Oaklawn
Lukas said the spring goal for Take Charge Brandi remains the May 1 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). He said a re-evaluation could come if her early season performances merit a look at the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) but ultimately he thinks it will be the Oaks.
A $435,000 purchase from the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale when consigned by Paramount Sales, Take Charge Brandi earned $1,620,126 in eight starts last year with four wins and a second. She was bred in Kentucky by Charming syndicate out of the Seeking the Gold mare Charming, a daughter of Take Charge Lady.
Read Take Charge Brandi's Eclipse Awards Profile Here