Take Charge Brandi (USA)
February 7, 2012 – Living
Giant’s Causeway (USA) x Charming (USA), by Seeking the Gold (USA)
Family 22-c
February 7, 2012 – Living
Giant’s Causeway (USA) x Charming (USA), by Seeking the Gold (USA)
Family 22-c
As the winner of only a 4½-furlong maiden race from five previous starts, Take Charge Brandi went into the starting gate for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies as a rank outsider, sporting 61-1 odds. To the shock of nearly everyone but her immediate connections, she charged home a winner. She proved her performance was no fluke by following up with wins in the Delta Downs Princess Stakes (USA-G3) and Starlet Stakes (USA-G1) and was voted the outstanding American juvenile filly of the year. She started off well at 3, winning her first race back, but developed a knee chip while being pointed toward a trial against males in the Rebel Stakes (USA-G2) and was sidelined for over five months. She failed to show her previous form on her return and was retired after being eased in her final start.
Race record
11 starts, 5 wins, 1 seconds, 0 thirds, US$1,692,126
2014:
2015:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old filly (2014)
Assessments
Co-highweighted at 123 pounds with Breeders' Cup Juvenile Filly Turf (USA-G1) winner Lady Eli on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 2014.
As an individual
A rather compact chestnut filly, Take Charge Brandi was a free-running type who tended to resent the whip and did her best racing when she could control the pace. She was gritty and determined when hanging on to the lead.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Take Charge Brandi was bred by the Charming Syndicate, A US$435,000 purchase from the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale, she was owned by Willis Horton, who also owned the filly’s champion “uncle” Will Take Charge (a half brother to her dam). She was trained by D. Wayne Lukas and was ridden to her Breeders’ Cup win by Victor Espinoza. Following her racing career, she was sent to the 2015 Keeneland November mixed sale and was sold for US$6 million to John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine, which later sold a half interest in the filly to Elevage. Take Charge Brandi passed through the same venue in 2019 as part of the Elevage dispersal and sold for US$3.2 million to Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, in foal to Justify. The mare changed hands again at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November sale; in foal to Uncle Mo, she sold for US$1.15 million to Three Chimneys Farm.
As a producer
As of July 3, 2022, Take Charge Brandi is the dam of two winners from four named foals of racing age. Her best runner thus far is Courvoisier, a 2019 son of Tapit who won the 2022 Jerome Stakes (USA-L).
Pedigree notes
Take Charge Brandi is inbred 4x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Secretariat and to Blushing Groom, a multiple champion in Europe. She is a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Omaha Beach (by War Front).
Charming, the dam of Take Charge Brandi, is a half sister to 2013 American champion 3-year-old male Will Take Charge (by Unbridled’s Song). She is also a half sister to 2012 Florida Derby (USA-G1) winner Take Charge Indy (by A.P. Indy) and to 2022 Beholder Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner As Time Goes By (by American Pharoah). In addition, Charming is a half sister to I'll Take Charge (by Indian Charlie), dam of 2022 Dwyer Stakes (USA-G3) winner Charge It (by Tapit).
Charming, in turn, is out of 2013 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady (by Dehere x Felicita, by Rubiano). A multiple Grade 1 winner during her own racing days, Take Charge Lady s a half sister to multiple New York-bred stakes winner Eventail (by Lear Fan), dam of Canadian Grade 2 winner Straight Story (by Giant’s Causeway) and multiple Japanese listed stakes winner Strong Souther (by Heart’s Cry), and to Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Commendation (by Capote).
Books and media
Footage of Take Charge Brandi’s win in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies can be accessed at the Breeders’ Cup Hall of Champions (https://www.breederscup.com/history-tradition/hall-champions/take-charge-brandi).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan in 2014. Used by permission.
Last updated: September 13, 2022
Race record
11 starts, 5 wins, 1 seconds, 0 thirds, US$1,692,126
2014:
- Won 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Starlet Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Los Alamitos)
- Won Delta Downs Princess Stakes (USA-G3, 8FD, Delta Downs)
- 2nd Schuylerville Stakes (USA-G3, 6FD, Saratoga)
2015:
- Won Martha Washington Stakes (USA-L, 8FD, Oaklawn Park)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old filly (2014)
Assessments
Co-highweighted at 123 pounds with Breeders' Cup Juvenile Filly Turf (USA-G1) winner Lady Eli on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 2014.
As an individual
A rather compact chestnut filly, Take Charge Brandi was a free-running type who tended to resent the whip and did her best racing when she could control the pace. She was gritty and determined when hanging on to the lead.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Take Charge Brandi was bred by the Charming Syndicate, A US$435,000 purchase from the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale, she was owned by Willis Horton, who also owned the filly’s champion “uncle” Will Take Charge (a half brother to her dam). She was trained by D. Wayne Lukas and was ridden to her Breeders’ Cup win by Victor Espinoza. Following her racing career, she was sent to the 2015 Keeneland November mixed sale and was sold for US$6 million to John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine, which later sold a half interest in the filly to Elevage. Take Charge Brandi passed through the same venue in 2019 as part of the Elevage dispersal and sold for US$3.2 million to Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, in foal to Justify. The mare changed hands again at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton November sale; in foal to Uncle Mo, she sold for US$1.15 million to Three Chimneys Farm.
As a producer
As of July 3, 2022, Take Charge Brandi is the dam of two winners from four named foals of racing age. Her best runner thus far is Courvoisier, a 2019 son of Tapit who won the 2022 Jerome Stakes (USA-L).
Pedigree notes
Take Charge Brandi is inbred 4x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Secretariat and to Blushing Groom, a multiple champion in Europe. She is a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Omaha Beach (by War Front).
Charming, the dam of Take Charge Brandi, is a half sister to 2013 American champion 3-year-old male Will Take Charge (by Unbridled’s Song). She is also a half sister to 2012 Florida Derby (USA-G1) winner Take Charge Indy (by A.P. Indy) and to 2022 Beholder Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner As Time Goes By (by American Pharoah). In addition, Charming is a half sister to I'll Take Charge (by Indian Charlie), dam of 2022 Dwyer Stakes (USA-G3) winner Charge It (by Tapit).
Charming, in turn, is out of 2013 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady (by Dehere x Felicita, by Rubiano). A multiple Grade 1 winner during her own racing days, Take Charge Lady s a half sister to multiple New York-bred stakes winner Eventail (by Lear Fan), dam of Canadian Grade 2 winner Straight Story (by Giant’s Causeway) and multiple Japanese listed stakes winner Strong Souther (by Heart’s Cry), and to Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Commendation (by Capote).
Books and media
Footage of Take Charge Brandi’s win in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies can be accessed at the Breeders’ Cup Hall of Champions (https://www.breederscup.com/history-tradition/hall-champions/take-charge-brandi).
Fun facts
- Take Charge Brandi became the namesake for a stakes race for 3-year-old fillies at Delta Downs in Louisiana.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan in 2014. Used by permission.
Last updated: September 13, 2022