Champion Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway) returns to action in Saturday's GI Test S. at Saratoga. The GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies upsetter is currently riding a four-race winning streak, including the GI Starlet S. at Los Alamitos Dec. 13 and the Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn Jan. 31. The 'TDN Rising Star' emerged from her latest start with a chip in her right knee that had to be removed. She has posted six timed workouts since, including a five-furlong bullet in 1:00 4/5 over the Oklahoma training track July 30.
“She's right on target,” Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. “She's had a good work pattern and is doing really well. She's strong. She's had some very good works, so she's had enough. She should run good. Seven-eighths [of a mile] is not ideal for her. I think she's a better two-turn filly, but the distance is probably better for a comeback race.”
Lukas warned, “I think she's every bit as good as she was when we ended up last year on her.”
Cavorting (Bernardini), heroine of last summer's GII Adirondack S. at Saratoga, got back on track with an impressive come-from-behind victory in Belmont's Jersey Girl S. June 5. She was a well-beaten ninth in Gulfstream's GII Davona Dale S. in her sophomore bow Feb. 21. She is the slight 3-1 favorite on the morning-line.
“We've been pointing for this since June 7,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “She's doing great. It's a Grade I, and we feel like she's a Grade I filly. We always thought she wanted longer, but she's run very well short. I would think seven furlongs is right up her alley. We're excited.”
The streaking Irish Jasper (First Defence) will be tested for class after reeling off three straight wins, including the GIII Adena Springs Miss Preakness S. May 15 and the GIII Victory Ride S. July 4.
Wonder Gal (Tiz Wonderful) continues to knock on the door at the top level, including a recent third in the GI Acorn S. June 6 and second in the GI Mother Goose S. June 27.
“She really does give you everything each time, and each time, I've put her in against some really nice horses,” trainer Leah Gyarmati said. “I'm excited about her; I just need to get her races spaced properly. They're all nice fillies in there.”
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