Santa Anita: Will Take Charge to face Mucho Macho Man in Santa Anita Handicap

ARCADIA, Calif. – Will Take Charge, the champion 3-year-old male of 2013, will make his next start in the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on March 8, trainer D. Wayne Lukas told Santa Anita officials Monday.

“We’re coming,” Lukas said.

The Grade 1 Big Cap is run at 1 1/4 miles on dirt. The presence of Will Take Charge will give the race a rematch of the first two finishers of the Breeders’ Cup Classic here in November. Last Saturday, trainer Kathy Ritvo said that BC Classic winner Mucho Macho Man will be sent from Florida to California later this month for the Big Cap.

Mucho Macho Man beat Will Take Charge by a nose in a thrilling running of the BC Classic. Both have started at Gulfstream Park this year. Mucho Macho Man won the Sunshine Millions Classic on Jan. 18. Will Take Charge was second to Lea in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap on Feb. 9.

They will be joined by a group of locally based horses that includes Game On Dude, winner of the Big Cap in 2011 and 2013. Game On Dude was fifth in the San Antonio Stakes on Feb. 8 in his first start since finishing second to Will Take Charge in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs in November.

Other probable starters are American Blend, Appealing Tale, Blingo, Blueskiesnrainbows, Fury Kapcori, Imperative, Majestic Harbor, Rousing Sermon, and Setsuko.