Will Take Charge garners support from Three Chimneys Farm

Demonstrating confidence in its first-crop stallion Will Take Charge, Three Chimneys Farm stepped up to buy two of the five yearlings by the son of Unbridled’s Song sold during the opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale on Monday.

“We couldn’t be more optimistic about the horse, his offspring and what the future holds for them, and we’re backing our confidence by buying his offspring here and helping to support breeders who have shared our confidence in the horse,” said Three Chimneys chief operating officer Chris Baker.

With Goncalo Borges Torrealba, the Brazilian-born chairman of the farm that is controlled by his family, observing in the Saratoga sale pavilion, the Three Chimneys team bid $300,000 to acquire Hip 55, a colt who is a half brother to multiple Graded stakes winner Notacatbutallama.

Toward the end of the session, Three Chimneys struck again for Hip 102, a Will Take Charge filly who is a half-sister to three stakes winners and from the prolific family of European champion Johannesburg, Middle Park Stakes winner Minardi and American sires Pulpit and Tale Of The Cat.

“We obviously have a lot of faith and confidence in the stallion - we have got a lot of nice (offspring) at home. But we liked these yearlings very much. We want to support them, and when horses we like come through, it’s easy to do,” Baker said.

Overall, six yearlings by Will Take Charge were offered during the session, with five reported sold at an average price of $322,000, which is more than ten times the stallion’s advertised stud fee of $30,000. Last year, he topped first-crop sires of weanlings with 18 sold for an average price of $128,444, including a $350,000 colt out of War Front’s Grade 1-winning daughter Summer Soiree; that colt was bred by Three Chimneys and sold to Dennis O’Neill at the Keeneland November sale.

“There’s plenty to be excited about,” Baker said. “I love the yearlings we have by him now and the foals of 2017, which I like just as much.”

Breeders have sent 144 and 143 mares to the stallion in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Undoubtedly, part of his allure is his pedigree as he is out of Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady and thus a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Take Charge Indy and to the dam of champion Take Charge Brandi.

Baker said Three Chimneys, which currently races multiple Grade 1 winner Gun Runner in partnership, plans to campaign the newly purchased yearlings and several others by Will Take Charge.

“His potential is unlimited,” Baker declared. “And the best thing about his offspring is their temperament, and they get that from him. He has a tremendous temperament and he is passing that along to his offspring. They have great minds.”