Brandi’ Looks to Go Back to Back

Willis Horton’s “TDN Rising Star” Take Charge Brandi (Giant’s Causeway) comes back relatively quick for this afternoon’s GIII Delta Downs Princess S., and will be a much shorter price than the 61-1 she was let go at when blowing up the tote in GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita Nov. 1. A debut winner under the Twin Spires in June, the $435,000 KEESEP yearling was a solid second to fellow ‘Rising Star’ Fashion Alert (Old Fashioned) in the Spa’s GIII Schuylerville S. July 18. Off the board in the Aug. 10 GII Adirondack S., Sept. 6 GII Pocahontas S. and Oct. 3 GI Darley Alcibiades S., the D. Wayne Lukas trainee went right to the front and forgot to stop over a speed-friendly surface in Arcadia. The likely favorite will certainly be tested early, and JRita Young Thoroughbreds LLC’s Vivian Da Bling (Too Much Bling) will definitely be among the early attendees. The grey took a pair of five-furlong events over the summer at Lone Star by a combined 15 3/4 lengths, but settled for fourth in the Adirondack after setting the pace. W. Bret Calhoun last sent out Vivian Da Bling to a commanding eight-length success in the My Trusty Cat S. going seven local furlongs Oct. 24. Trainer Dale Romans and owner Mark H. Stanley teamed up to take the 2009 renewal of this race by 7 3/4 lengths with Quiet Temper (Quiet American), and may be hoping for similarly sloppy conditions this year. Their chargeTemper Mint Patty (Congrats) increased her record to two-for-two when she ran away with Belmont’s Joseph A. Gimma S. in the mud Sept. 21, but settled for a distant second at odds-on in Big Sandy’s restricted Maid of the Mist S. Oct. 18. There is precipitation in the forecast for Saturday. Mark DeDomenico LLC & North American Thoroughbred Horse Company’s Majestic Presence (Majestic Warrior) failed to land a blow when ninth behind Take Charge Brandi in the Breeders’ Cup, but she’s certainly not without a chance here. A second-out graduate over subsequent stakes winner She’s Complete (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) going a mile on Del Mar Polytrack Aug. 13, the Jerry Hollendorfer representative was hung wide throughout and had to settle for fourth in Santa Anita’s GI Chandelier S. 
Sept. 27. She adds blinkers and gets plenty of pace to close into.