Tioga Downs: Will Take Charge does just that in Crawford Farms Open Trot

Will Take Charge surged to the top in a slow opening-half and was never threatened from there, cruising to a track record 1:51 2/5 win in the $186,000 Crawford Farms Open Trot for free-for-allers on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs.

I Know My Chip got away well for driver Jim Marohn Jr. and chopped out the opening quarter in 27 1/5, but Will Take Charge and Tim Tetrick) came up on the outside and gained command as the field raced in front of the stands for the first time.

Will Take Charge got to the half in just 56 1/5, but he opened up the throttle on the backside, trotting a 27 2/5 third quarter to get to three-quarters in 1:23 3/3 and opening up on his rivals in the process. It was all Will Take Charge around the far turn and through the lane as well, as he reported home a four-length winner. I Know My Chip followed in for second, with JL Cruze (Brett Miller) third. Top Flight Angel (Andy Miller) was fourth after a mild first-up bid that ever threatened the eventual winner, and Pinkman (Yannick Gingras) got fifth.

The 1:51 2/5 clocking lowered the previous track record for an older gelding trotter of 1:52 4/5 that had belonged to Traverse Seelster since 2014.

"I just thought it was his time to take charge, so we did that," said Tetrick. "This horse has raced on the front before. I just think he's better chasing, and in some of the spots he's been in he's had to chase. Today we just took charge and put him on the lead.

"I just let him trot on. We got a pretty nice half, and if you go too slow you keep everybody in it, and sometimes you get out-sprinted by a horse that sits third or fourth on the rail. My horse can carry it, so I wasn't too worried about it, and when I saw the half I was pretty comfortable. He cruised from there."

Jeff Gillis trains Will Take Charge, a 5-year-old gelding by Kadabra, for owner Mac Nichol. This was Will Take Charge's 20th career victory, and he pushed his earnings to $899,153. Will Take Charge, who was a close second to Marion Marauder in the Cashman Memorial on Hambletonian Day, was the 3-5 choice and paid $3.50 to win.