Team Europe has been a kid in the candy store for the last several years at Kentucky Downs, and their graded stakes domination continued during the 2026 season as Take Charge Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) strode home powerfully to claim the GII Mint Franklin-Simpson Stakes hardware on day six of the boutique seven-day meet.A known commodity back home, the Johnny Murtagh-trainee has faced salty company in his last three jumps on three different circuits. He wasn't a factor May 23 when running eighth in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh, but he battled Thesecretadversary (Ire) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}) to within a neck June 20 at Royal Ascot in the G3 Jersey Stakes. That rival would later resurface in France to post a smart win in the G1 Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Prix Jean Prat in his next start. Take Charge Star certainly did not disgrace himself last out Aug. 9 in Deauville when he ran fourth in a blanket finish in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Monday's Franklin-Simpson distance.The betting public made the Irish-bred the 2-1 favorite here, and he did not disappoint, even if Take Charge Star made them sweat for it early on. Last of all after a slow break, the action unfolded in front with no input from him as the leader posted an opening quarter in :22.05 and a half in :44.23. Still the caboose going around the hill but improving his position from a ground saving trip, jockey Jamie Spencer gave the cue and the distance to the front gradually decreased into the final furlong. Weaving between runners for racing room, Take Charge Star finally cleared the field and kicked on with it to win by 1 3/4 lengths. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Two Out Hero (War Front) bested Alpyland (Vekoma) for second by a head in the scramble for the minors. Big money continues at @KYDownsRacing as #10 TAKE CHARGE STAR takes the $1.5 million Mint Franklin-Simpson Stakes under @JPSPENCER1980. John Murtagh trains the son of @coolmorestud Starspangledbanner. pic.twitter.com/BtUEUwBq23— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 7, 2026Pedigree Note:Out of French group winner Freedonia (GB) (Selkirk), the runner-up in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes during her time in the States, Take Charge Star is a half-brother to G1 Prix Marcel Boussac-Criterium des Pouliches heroine Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). He also claims English Listed winner and Group-placed Polybius (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) as well as the dam of multiple Group-placed Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). He is the broodmare's last registered offspring.This is the immediate female family of GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Domedriver (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) through third dam MSW-Fr Napoli (GB) (Baillamont). A distant relative through her branch is G1 Nunthorpe Stakes runner-up Ain't Nobody (Ire) (Sands of Mali {Fr}).Monday, Kentucky DownsMINT FRANKLIN-SIMPSON S.-GII, $1,105,275, Kentucky Downs, 9-7, 3yo, 6 1/2fT, 1:15.45, fm.1–TAKE CHARGE STAR (IRE),120, c, 3, by Starspangledbanner (Aus) 1st Dam: Freedonia (GB) (GSW-Fr, GISP-USA, $268,241), by Selkirk 2nd Dam: Forest Rain (Fr), by Caerleon 3rd Dam: Napoli (GB), by Baillamont1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. (€300,000 Ylg '24 GOFORY). O-Maribeth Sandford; B-The Niarchos Family (IRE); T-John P. Murtagh; J-Jamie P. Spencer. $450,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng, 9-2-2-1, $573,730. *1/2 to Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), G1SW-Fr, GSW-Ire, $426,339; 1/2 to Polybius (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), SW & GSP-Eng, $199,808. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.2–Two Out Hero, 120, c, 3, War Front–Song River, by Liam's Map. ($240,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. O-Gold Square LLC; B-Corser Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Kevin Attard. $300,000.3–Alpyland, 120, g, 3, Vekoma–Il Brigante, by Kela.($47,000 RNA Wlg '23 KEENOV; $185,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT). O-D. J. Stable LLC; B-Denis L. Villella (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. $150,000.Margins: 1 3/4, HD, 3/4. Odds: 2.30, 26.20, 4.08.Also Ran: Oscar's Hope, Blinging It Back, Obliteration, Learntodiscover (GB), Throckmorton, Honey Dutch, Immortalised (Fr), Hey Nay Nay (Ire), Vasy (Ire). Scratched: Creole Chrome, Later Than Planned (Ire), Reb Five, Trouble Calling.Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel Racing.The post Kentucky Downs Remains Europe’s Playground: Take Charge Star Takes Home Franklin-Simpson appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.