Oaklawn Park notes: Will Take Charge travel plans

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Travel arrangements for champion Will Take Charge, who is scheduled to make his 4-year-old debut in the Grade 1, $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream on Feb. 9, are still being determined, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said earlier this week. Lukas has been working to line up a suitable flight from Arkansas to Florida.

“We want to run in the Donn,” he said. “We’re working very diligently on coordinating travel arrangements. If we have to van, we’ll go seven, eight days early.”

Will Take Charge last raced Nov. 29, winning the Grade 1 Clark. Earlier this month, he was named champion 3-year-old of 2013. Will Take Charge will race this year for Willis Horton and Three Chimneys LLC.

Promising filly for Calumet

Ireland, a full sister to Grade 1 winner Dublin, defeated older rivals by eight lengths in a maiden special weight route at Oaklawn on Jan. 17 and will be considered for the track’s $100,000 Martha Washington, Lukas said.

“We’ll look at it, but it might be up a little quick,” he said.

The Martha Washington, for 3-year-old fillies at a mile, is Feb. 1.

Ireland was making her two-turn debut in the maiden race and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 84. She races for Calumet Farm.

Apprentice on the mend

Pedro Nazario, a seven-pound apprentice thrown hard when his mount broke down in the third race Jan. 18, broke two vertebrae in his lower back in the spill and is now recuperating at home, said his agent, Ronnie Salmen.

“He’s going to be fine; just needs time to heal,” Salmen said.

Salmen said no surgery was required, but that Nazario, 29, would be out three to four months. Salmen said the rider is under a doctor’s care at Mercy Hospital in Hot Springs. Salmen began representing Nazario this meet. He said the rider was based this summer at Delaware Park and also had spent some time riding in South Florida.

◗ Taptowne, a three-time stakes winner, is being pointed to the $100,000 Essex at Oaklawn on Feb. 15, trainer Tim Glyshaw said.