Kicking off the Championship races on Saturday was the $2 million 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), featuring the best 2-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Chandelier Stakes (G1) winner Angela Renee was sent off as the lukewarm 7-2 favorite in the field of 12. In to challenge her included 4-1 second choice Conquest Eclipse, second in the Chandelier after finishing third in the Del Mar Debutante (G1), and 9-2 third choice Puca, a 16-length maiden winner last out.
Take Charge Brandi leads down the stretch
Jockey Victor Espinoza sent 62-1 longest shot Take Charge Brandi to the front first time past the stands and she set fractions of 22.22, 45.99, and 1:10.07 over the fast track while stalked by 52-1 Hennythelovepenny and 14-1 By The Moon. At the top of the stretch, Take Charge Brandi stubbornly continued to lead, getting the mile in 1:35.39. 6-1 fourth choice Top Decile put in a late rally from 7th but Take Charge Brandi held her off by 1/2 a length for the huge upset in 1:41.95. It was another 1/2 length back to 15-1 Wonder Gal third, while favorite Angela Renee finished 10th beaten 13 1/2 lengths.
Take Charge Brandi wins the Juvenile Fillies
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
6 Take Charge Brandi Espinoza 125.40 51.40 24.80
11 Top Decile Napravnik 7.20 5.40
10 Wonder Gal Smith 9.40
Winning Time: 1:41.95
$1 Exacta 6-11 778.60
$1 Trifecta 6-11-10 11,309.00
$1 Superfecta 6-11-10-1 97,620.00
Left: Take Charge Brandi in the winner's circle. Jockey Victor Espinoza said, "She had plenty of speed on her own. But I want to make sure that she breaks sharp and to be able to take the lead. But saying that not force her too much, not overdo her. But when she broke nice and she took the lead, I was cruising down the back side. She was special. She's a little filly, but she has a lot of talent."
Right: Take Charge Brandi heads back to the barn after the race. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said, "We never give up on one, especially if they're bred this brilliantly. She's got such a pedigree, and anytime I think you train a race horse and you see it at some point, you're liable to get it on a given day. I think our ultimate goal would try to be in one of these big ones again, and that would be the Kentucky Oaks. We'll spend the whole winter trying to get there."
The trophy presentation with owner Willis D. Horton (left) and trainer D. Wayne Lukas (right). Horton said, "I'm happy to win it. Proud of the way Victor rode her. He done a terrific job. Wayne's done a good job in training her and everything. And now I get to rejoice for a minute. The big thing that I really am proud of is that she is a part of the family of the big horse, Will Take Charge. I'm looking for a great future in this filly, and to go on with her and hope I get to come back to the Breeders' Cup next year."
Left: Second place finisher Top Decile in the post parade. Jockey Rosie Napravnik said, "We had a good trip. I got through the first turn without losing much ground, but I had to go about three-wide on the second turn. I think the track was playing a little differently today than it was yesterday and she was running against the bias. She finished well. She's a good filly."
Right: Third place finisher Wonder Gal returns after the race. Trainer Leah Gyarmati said, "I am very proud of her! She really showed she belongs with this caliber of horses. I think speed is a huge advantage here and closers are at a distinct disadvantage, yet in spite of that she came running."
Beaten favorite and 10th place finisher Angela Renee returns to be unsaddled. Trainer Todd Pletcher said, "She got creamed from both sides leaving the gate and got shuffled back going into the first turn. She never really got into a rhythm. The way the track's playing, it's hard to make up ground."
Breeders' Cup Saturday Results - There were 9 races Saturday highlighted by the $5 million Classic where American Pharoah was an impressive winner in his final start before retiring to stud. Also on the card, Found won the Turf, Nyquist won the Juvenile, and Tepin won the Mile. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 9 races here. Get more photos and comments for each race here.
Breeders' Cup Friday Results - There were 4 races Friday highlighted by the Distaff where Stopchargingmaria won by a neck over Stellar Wind and the Dirt Mile won by Liam's Map. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 4 races here.
Thursday Breeders' Cup Photos - Photos and comments for 38 horses out on Thursday morning at Keeneland on both the main and training tracks, including American Pharoah. Beholder was also out, but was found to have bled when scoped and is scratched from the Classic.
Wednesday Breeders' Cup Photos - Photos and comments for 46 horses out on a very rainy Wednesday morning at Keeneland on both the main and training tracks, including Keen Ice, Frosted, and Golden Horn. No American Pharoah yet, hopefully he comes out tomorrow.
2015 Breeders' Cup Entries - Check out the entries, post postitions, and morning line odds for the 13 Breeders' Cup World Championship races to be held at Keeneland on October 30 and 31.
Tuesday Breeders' Cup Photos - Photos and comments for 31 horses out on a rainy Tuesday morning at Keeneland including Stephanie's Kitten, Grand Arch, and Private Zone.
Monday Breeders' Cup Photos - Photos and comments for 28 horses out Monday morning at Keeneland including Rachel's Valentina and a timed work by Beholder.
Sunday Breeders' Cup Photos - Photos and comments for 10 horses out Sunday morning at Keeneland including Liam's Map and Lea
Breeders' Cup Weather - Check out the latest weather forecasts for the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland
Review: Crushing the Cup 2015 - by Jim Mazur and Peter Mallett. An invaluable tool for trying to unlock the mysteries of handicapping the Breeders' Cup races at Keeneland updated for 2015.
2014 Breeders' Cup Saturday Results - The feature race was the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic won by Bayern. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 9 races here.
2014 Breeders' Cup Friday Results - Friday was headlined by the $2 million Ladies Classic won by Untapable. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 4 races here.
Breeders' Cup History - Historical info, past results, and photos from previous runnings
The Breeders' Cup Championship Day - The official page for the Breeders' Cup championship races. Just about anything you need to know about it: results, video clips, and race calls for past years, and eventually nominations, entries, and results.
Free Prep Replays - for major prep races in the Breeders' Cup Challenge. The ones with camera logos have video available.
Blazing Silks, Breeders' Cup Edition- an interactive social network game that allows horse racing fans and social gamers to train and care for Thoroughbred horses.
TV Schedule - for all the preps and other programming leading up to the big day
Breeders' Cup Postcards - Breeders' Cup theme virtual postcards to send your friends including many past winners
Breeders' Cup Supplemental Entries - The old official policy on supplemental entries plus all the supplemental entries and how they fared, mostly it was a losing proposition. There are no more supplements now, only late nominations making it impossible to track now.
Left: Take Charge Brandi in the winner's circle. Jockey Victor Espinoza said, "She had plenty of speed on her own. But I want to make sure that she breaks sharp and to be able to take the lead. But saying that not force her too much, not overdo her. But when she broke nice and she took the lead, I was cruising down the back side. She was special. She's a little filly, but she has a lot of talent."
Left: Second place finisher Top Decile in the post parade. Jockey Rosie Napravnik said, "We had a good trip. I got through the first turn without losing much ground, but I had to go about three-wide on the second turn. I think the track was playing a little differently today than it was yesterday and she was running against the bias. She finished well. She's a good filly."
