HOT SPRINGS - Will Take Charge wasn’t on his best behavior Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn Park, but it was good enough, at least in the eyes of track stewards.
Heavily favored Will Take Charge, co-owned by Willis Horton of Marshall, survived a lengthy stewards’ inquiry and two claims of foul to win the $600,000 Grade II Oaklawn Handicap for older horses.
Will Take Charge, who was ridden by Luis Saez, finished three-quarters of a length ahead of an unlucky Revolutionary in the 1 1/8-mile race. Carve, owned by Mike Langford of Jonesboro, finished a half-length farther back in third.
Will Take Charge, the country’s champion 3-year old male of 2013, took a narrow lead on the outside in midstretch, but drifted in under right-handed urging to brush a tiring Golden Lad.
Will Take Charge then came in again inside the eighth pole to slightly bother Revolutionary, who was trying to find a seam between horses.
Stewards immediately lit the inquiry sign, and the riders of Revolutionary (Mike Smith) and Golden Lad (Gary Stevens) claimed foul against Will Take Charge.
Both Revolutionary and Golden Lad are trained by Todd Pletcher, a former assistant to Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, the trainer of Will Take Charge.
Stewards deliberated for approximately 10 minutes before deciding to let the result stand.
“I didn’t see that much of a problem,” Horton said. “Of course, the stewards took their time about making it come true, and they did. I feel good. I feel better than I did before the race. I’ve got a little life in me now. I’m sure proud of what just happened.”
Will Take Charge, the 2-5 favorite, paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10. Revolutionary paid $4 and $3.20. Carve paid $4.20.
Carrying top weight of 123 pounds - 6 more than Revolutionary - Will Take Charge ran 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:49.55.
Prayer For Relief, Golden Lad and Right to Vote completed the order of finish. Moreno was scratched.
Right to Vote is owned by Fort Smith-based B J D Thoroughbred (Lee and Joyce Didier) and trained by Ron Moquett of Hot Springs.
Will Take Charge won for the seventh time in 18 lifetime starts to increase his earnings to $3,665,148.
Will Take Charge, a chestnut son of Unbridled’s Song, began his rise to national prominence with victories in last year’s $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes and $600,000 Grade II Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn.
Will Take Charge has finished second in his two previous starts this year, the $500,000 Grade I Donn Handicap on Feb. 9 at Gulfstream Park near Miami and the $750,000 Grade I Santa Anita Handicap on March 8 at Santa Anita near Los Angeles.
Will Take Charge is expected to make his next start in the $500,000 Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap on June 14 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
Sports, Pages 36 on 04/13/2014