Take Charge Brandi holds on to win Martha Washington Stakes

Hot Springs, AR (SportsNetwork.com) – Eclipse Award winner Take Charge Brandi fought off a challenge down the stretch to capture Saturday’s $100,000 Martha Washington Stakes in her season debut at Oaklawn Park.

Owned by Willis Horton and trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Take Charge Brandi went off as the 2-5 favorite in the six-horse field of 3-year-old fillies. Ridden for the first time by veteran jockey Jon Court, Take Charge Brandi set the pace in the mile event.

“Basically, I was told just be a passenger and she’d do the rest,” Court noted.

On the final turn, Take Charge Brandi had the lead with Sarah Sis and 7-2 second choice Indian Annie right behind. The favorite was joined down the stretch by 7-1 third pick Sarah Sis but was able to hold off the challenger to post a head victory.

“This was a comeback race and we’re obviously glad to have it under our belts. She was a little erratic through the stretch,” Lukas said, “but it was her first time here. It gives us something to build on. The big thing is getting this under her belt and moving on to the next one.”

Indian Annie got third followed by Sweet Corinna, High Dollar Woman and Perfect Fit. Cape Town Stevie was an early scratch.

The time for the Martha Washington on a fast track was 1:39.66.

Take Charge Brandi boosted her earnings by $60,000 to $1,680,126 with five wins in nine starts. The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner is being pointed toward the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on Friday, May 1.

“Well, you may get to see it in the Arkansas Derby, but let’s take it one race at a time,” said Horton. “Our big goal is the Kentucky Oaks. If things work out, we may run in the Arkansas Derby and possibly the Kentucky Derby with her because Wayne is good with fillies and he’s won the Derby with fillies before.”

Take Charge Brandi won the 2014 Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old filly primarily based on her 61-1 upset victory in the Juvenile Fillies last November.

The 3-year-old finished her 2014 season by winning the Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos on Dec. 13. That victory came just three weeks after capturing the Delta Downs Princess Stakes on Nov. 22.

Take Charge Brandi paid $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10. Sarah Sis returned $4.20 and $2.60, and Indian Annie paid $2.20 to show.

Categorized in: Horses