Smarty Jones winner doing fine

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Hot Springs, AR (Sports Network) - Smarty Jones Stakes winner Will Take Charge gave his trainer a start after stumbling when being pulled up after winning by a neck at Oaklawn Park.

"He's fine and was fine when we got him back to the barn (Monday) afternoon," said Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. "He must have just tweaked something pulling up from the race."

Lukas said that the colt was jogged Wednesday morning in the shedrow and was fine.

Coming up at Oaklawn for 3-year-olds will be the $300,000 Southwest Stakes on Feb. 18 followed by the $600,000 Rebel on March 16 with the $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 13.

Lukas also trains Oxbow who captured last Saturday's Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds. The New Orleans track will offer the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes on Saturday, Feb. 23 and the $1 million Louisiana Derby five weeks later.

"We're kind of in limbo about where to go with these horses, although we're sure going to keep them apart as long as we can," said Lukas. "We're looking ahead at the races at Oaklawn and the Risen Star at Fair Grounds. But I'm not likely to run one horse in all four of these races at Oaklawn. On the other hand we have at least one more (horse) that I like, who might be this kind, so we have a lot of options."

Lukas is a 4-time winner of the Kentucky Derby, but has not won the Run for the Roses since 1999 with Charismatic.