Take Charge Brandi Strengthens her Eclipse Resume

 

Take Charge Brandi backed up her Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies victory with a convincing win in the $400,000 Delta Downs Princess (G3). Sent off as the 2-1 betting favorite, the D. Wayne Lukas trainee sat a length behind a quick early pace and then drew off down the stretch for her second graded stakes score.

A win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies always puts that horse in contention for an Eclipse Award. Lukas and owner, Willis Horton, are not ones to leave their horses in the barn, and as a result they clearly bolstered the case for Take Charge Brandi to be named divisional champion.

When asked about the end of the year awards Lukas said, “We don’t have a vote because we’re pretty prejudice, but we sure think it moved us in the right direction.”

Vivian Da Bling went right to the lead out of the gate and Take Charge Brandi rushed up to sit on the outside about a length behind. The early fractions were :22.34 and :46.44. After six furlongs, jockey Paco Lopez made his move for the lead. At the same time Vivian Da Bling was tiring badly. Down the stretch, the second place finisher Skipalute made a move but he was no match for the winner, finishing 1 1/2 lengths behind. Skipalute, who also finished second in the Matron (G2) in October, is still looking for her first career victory.

Lopez was riding Take Charge Brandi for the first time in the Delta Downs Princess. He was her fourth new rider in the last four races. Lopez had also won this race in 2012 on Rose to Gold.

Majestic Presence, who finished third behind Take Charge Brandi in today’s Princess, had also run last in the BC Juvenile Fillies when she was a distant ninth. Thus, at least in this race, the Breeders’ Cup horses had no trouble coming up with a strong effort after the World Championships.

As a matter of fact, Lukas said that if Take Charge Brandi comes out of this race in good order that she could run again. “All of the votes aren’t equal. The gray haired guy [owner Horton] over there in the winner’s circle has the big vote. We may try the Starlet at Los Alamitos, which is a Grade 1.” That race will be run at a mile and a sixteenth on December 13.

 

In addition to the $240,000 of purse money, Take Charge Brandi earned 10 qualifying point towards the Kentucky Oaks. Bettors that wagered on her received $6.40, $4.20, $2.40 across the board.