Take Charge Brandi Stuns Juvenile Fillies at 60-1 for Lukas

In another gate-to-wire Breeders' Cup performance at Santa Anita, D. Wayne Lukas-trained Take Charge Brandi shocked the Juvenile Fillies field Saturday at 60-1.

The filly took charge of the pace early and never relinquished the lead under Victor Espinoza, giving Lukas his 20th Breeders' Cup win.

Top Decile closed to miss by half a length under Rosie Napravnik. Wonder Gall was another length back in third. The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:41.95.

Owned by Willis D. Horton, Take Charge Brandi is a daughter of Giant's Causeway out of the Seeking the Gold mare, Charming. She was bred in Kentucky by Charming Syndicate.

Victor Espinoza (jockey, Take Charge Brandi, 1^st) – “Wayne (trainer Lukas) just told me to let her run and I did that.  I hit her once and she didn't seem to like it, so I didn't hit her anymore and I just let her do her thing.”

 D. Wayne Lukas (trainer, Take Charge Brandi, 1^st) – “I thought she had a great week and today I thought we could be a factor – not that we would win it, but that we would do very swell. Dr. Bill Caton, who saved (son) Jeff's life, bet her heavy – he won't be able to carry it out in a shopping bag.  This is the most exciting one (win) yet.”

Rosie Napravnik (jockey, Top Decile, 2^nd) – “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.”

Bill Lawrence (co-owner, Top Decile, 2^nd) – “She ran her eyeballs out. Rosie (jockey Napravnik) did a great job. You want to win these races, but we're happy we have a nice filly. She's done nothing wrong. To be able to make that kind of move from the outside and go that many more lengths, you've got to be happy. You want to win these races, but there was nothing wrong with that effort.”

Mike Smith (jockey, Wonder Gal, 3^rd) – “Brilliant trip.  Just tough to get by.  I thought I got second, but she got headed out.  I really can't complain.  She ran great.”

Leah Gyarmati (trainer, Wonder Gal, 3^rd) – “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.”

Javier Castellano (jockey, Feathered, 4^th) – “I had a beautiful trip.  She was on the rail and I tried to get to the lead but couldn't get there.  The winner was very fast.  I'm very pleased with her trip.  It was a perfect trip.  Just in the last jumps she didn't have it.”

Todd Pletcher (trainer, Feathered, 4^th and Angela Renee, 10^th) – “(Angela Renee) 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.

“Feathered, I thought she ran a very creditable race.”

Kent Desormeaux (jockey, Danette, 5^th) – “Didn't get to let her run the whole last eighth of a mile.  There was a wall in front of us.  The tank was full and I didn't get to empty it.”