BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Taken by the Wind went immediately to the front from the start, remained in charge through a controlled pace then fought off Luv Your Neighbor for the duration of the long Fair Grounds stretch to win the $145,000 Fasig-Tipton Silverbulletday Stakes Saturday. Ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. and trained by Kenneth McPeek, Florida-bred Taken by the Wind remained undefeated in three career starts and earned 20 additional points on the leaderboard for the Grade 1 Longines Kentucky Oaks to be run at Churchill Downs on May 1.
Taken by the Wind now ranks third on the Oaks Leaderboard with 30 qualifying points, including to the 10 points earned from her five-and-a-quarter-length score in the Grade 3 Pocahantas going a mile at Churchill Downs on Sept. 13. She won her first career race, a seven-furlong maiden $75,000 optional claiming, by three lengths at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 21.
Last year Quickick was the last filly to make the Oaks starting gate with 34 points. Ways and Means was the final filly to qualify for the 2024 Oaks with 50 points while Wonder Wheel needed 48 points in 2023.
Herndanez had Taken by the Wind in control early after breaking from post four in the field of six 3-year-old fillies going a mile-and-70 yards. She cruised through quarter-mile fractions of :25.69, :50.24 and 1:14.69 while keeping Luv Your Neighbor at bay by a length. Luv Your Neighbor got within a half-length in the stretch and closed the gap to wire but could not get by Taken by the Wind, who won by a neck, finishing in 1:43.58 on the fast track. Luv Your Neighbor was a length-and-a-quarter faster than third-place finisher and 1-2 favorite Atropa in third. Pashmina, Dancin in Old Town and White Smoke completed the order of finish.
Taken by the Wind paid $10.80 to win.
“She put us in that spot first jump out of the gate. They let us cruise around there as slow as we did,” Hernandez said. “She had her ears up and was able to get a nice long breather. When Luv Your Neighbor came to her at the head of the lane, she was able to fend her off with how easily she was able to go early on.”
Taken by the Wind has now earned $270,710 for owners Magdalena Racing, Terry Bradshaw, Graham Leveston and Raasi Stable. Bred in Florida by Courtney Meagher of Citra, Florida, Taken by the Wind is by Rock Your World out of Up for Grabs, by First Samurai. Purchased by Meagher for $3,000 at the 2013 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Fall Mixed Sale, Up for Grabs has produced nine foals including five winners from seven starters. With Double Diamond Farm’s Bahamian Squall, Up for Grabs produced stakes-placed Florida-bred Running Memories, also bred by Meagher. She has an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Global Campaign.
In July of 2024, Taken by the Wind was purchased by Walking L Thoroughbreds for $70,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale where she was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency as agent. Walking L Thoroughbreds dispersed shortly after, selling Taken by the Wind to McPeek as agent for $20,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale where she was consigned by Gainesway.
Notes: Taken by the Wind is the third Florida-bred of an open stakes race in 2026.
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