There has been a lot of buzz surrounding champion Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway) as the racing world waited for her connections to decide whether she would make her next start in Oaklawn's GIII Honeybee S. Saturday or face the boys for the first time in the GII Rebel S. Mar. 14. The 'TDN Rising Star's' name was absent from the Honeybee field, which drew today, so according to her owner Willis Horton it is on to the Rebel.
It appeared that the filly was likely Rebel bound Monday after breezing five furlongs at Oaklwan in 1:01.80. Following the work, Horton said it had been “pretty much” decided she would go to the Rebel and trainer D. Wayne Lukas was shopping for a jockey.
“I really want to find out how good she is,” Horton said. “If she can beat the boys, I think her better chance of doing that is early than later in the year, because the boys will start really gaining. I'm just wanting to take a chance on beating the boys. I'm just trying to build her resume up.”
Lukas has maintained since December that the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies upsetter was GI Kentucky Oaks bound, and neither Lukas nor Horton have announced any changes to that plan.
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