Oaklawn Park: Will Take Charge points to Donn Handicap after sharp work

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Will Take Charge, who Saturday night was named champion 3-year-old of 2013, is likely to make his seasonal debut in the Donn Handicap following a sharp work in company Monday morning at Oaklawn Park. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said the horse would shoot for the Feb. 9 race at Gulfstream Park if suitable travel arrangements could be made to Florida.

“We’re trying still for appropriate travel arrangements to try and make the Donn,” Lukas said Monday. “If the travel doesn’t come togther, we’ll go in another direction. But right now, we’re concentrating on making the Donn.”

The Santa Anita Handicap on March 8 also has been a consideration for the first start of the year for Will Take Charge. He last raced Nov. 29 and won the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Will Take Charge was out when the track opened at 7 a.m. on a sunny, 38-degree morning at Oaklawn and was credited with a five-furlong work in 1:00.60. He warmed up to the wire, but was soon brought into the indoor paddock for cover when a horse became loose, ran about two miles the wrong way, and delayed training about 10 minutes.

Will Take Charge came back out when the coast was clear and went into his work at the 5 1/2-furlong pole, breaking off about five lengths behind his workmate. Will Take Charge drew even with his company within a sixteenth of a mile, and clockers then carried the pair from the five-furlong pole to the wire. Will Take Charge, working on the outside, got his first eighth-mile in 11.80 seconds, the first quarter in 23.80, and thee furlongs in 36.20.

“He just jumped on his company,” Lukas said. “I wanted him to get a little more serious, put something out there with him, getting him a little more focused.”

Will Take Charge was pulling away from his company nearing the wire and finished about a length ahead of his workmate while safely holding off a worker who rolled up outside of the set late. Clockers had Will Take Charge’s final quarter in 24.40. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.

Rudy Quevedo, regular exercise rider of Will Take Charge, was aboard for the move. Luis Saez has the mount, Lukas said.

Will Take Charge is the record 25th champion trained by Lukas, who on Saturday night was honored with the Eclipse Award of Merit during a ceremony at Gulfstream Park. Will Take Charge will race this year for Willis Horton and Three Chimneys LLC.

Lukas also had Strong Mandate, the Hopeful winner pointing to the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest at Oaklawn on Feb. 17, out for a morning work second set Monday. The horse, under Quevedo, went five furlongs in company in 1:00.60, working inside of his workmate.

The track was fast for works Monday.