Take Charge Brandi Tops Keeneland November In Foal to Justify

One of 59 Grade 1 winners or producers in-foal to Triple Crown winner Justify, Champion Take Charge Brandi topped Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock Sale Book 1 on Wednesday when purchased for $3.2 million by Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa.

Consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sale Agency for the Elevage Dispersal carrying her third foal, Giant's Causeway's Take Charge Brandi was the Champion 2-Year-Old Filly of 2014 and is part of one of the strongest families in the stud book. The mare is out of the winning mare Charming, a daughter of three-time Grade I winner and Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady.

Charming has proven herself an influential broodmare as well as the dam of Take Charge Brandi, Grade I placed Courage Under Fire and most recently, this year’s Dual Grade I winner and Grade I Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile runner-up Omaha Beach.

"Justify is a great mating for that mare. He has some leg, some stretch, and she's a bit compact, so hopefully she'll take the best of physiques between sire and dam. He was a great racehorse, so we'll see what happens," Hill 'n' Dale's John Sikura told Blood-Horse.

Following up on a strong Fasig-Tipton November Sale on Tuesday night, the first mares in-foal to Justify to go through the ring at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale averaged $864,167 for 12 mares sold, the highest average of any freshman sire.