Take Charge Brandi, Far Right get works in

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.- Take Charge Brandi, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2014, and Far Right, winner of the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest Stakes, led a group of notable 3-year-olds who worked Monday at Oaklawn.

Take Charge Brandi had her final prep for the Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel Stakes on Saturday. She will meet American Pharoah, the champion 2-year-old colt of 2014 who is scheduled to fly from his Southern California base to Oaklawn on Wednesday, according to trainer Bob Baffert.

Take Charge Brandi worked in the second set, but due to fog that limited visibility, she could not be credited with a published workout time, according to Oaklawn head clocker Jim Hamilton. The same was true for other horses that had worked in the first and second sets Monday.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said before training hours Monday that Take Charge Brandi was to breeze five furlongs in a maintenance move. He said she was to work by herself. From the press box, Take Charge Brandi was visible for about the final sixteenth of a mile of her workout, which ended at the wire. She breezed on a track Hamilton rated muddy.

Lukas on Monday said rider plans were being finalized for Take Charge Brandi. She will be seeking her fifth straight stakes win in the Rebel. During her streak, she's won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, the Delta Downs Princess, the Starlet and the Martha Washington.

Baffert on Monday said Victor Espinoza has the mount on American Pharoah.

Far Right had his first breeze since winning the Southwest at Oaklawn on Feb. 22. He worked first set after the renovation break, in company with Sakima, according to trainer Ron Moquett. Moquett said Far Right is being pointed for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 11.

"We just let him stretch his legs, typical maintenance," Moquett said Monday.

Far Right broke off with his company, situated to the outside of Sakima as the pair worked together and covered five furlongs in 1:04 on a track rated muddy. Jockey Greta Kuntzweiler breezed Far Right, whose other stakes win this meet came in the $150,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn on Jan. 19. In both races, the horse was ridden by Mike Smith, who has the mount in the Arkansas Derby.

Moquett said plans for Sakima are being determined, with a possible option the Rebel.

“We'll see what unfolds,” said Moquett.

Mr. Z and Majestico, who both exit the Southwest, breezed for upcoming stakes engagements before the break Monday.

Mr. Z worked five furlongs in the third set by himself, and with the fog temporarily lifted was timed in 1:04. Mr. Z breezed without blinkers. Lukas said last week when the horse also worked without them that an equipment change is being debated for Mr. Z, who has been racing in blinkers. Lukas said Monday the horse remains on deck for the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.

Mr. Z was third in the Southwest.

Majestico worked shortly after Mr. Z, also breezing by himself. He went five furlongs in 1:02. Lukas said before training Monday that Majestico is a candidate for either the Spiral at Turfway Park or the Transylvania at Keeneland.

Majestico closed for sixth in the Southwest.

The horses got their works in before steady rains fell on Oaklawn for most of the day Monday.