Will Take Charge rallies to take Oaklawn Handicap

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Hot Springs, AR (SportsNetwork.com) - Eclipse Award winner Will Take Charge came from off the pace to claim his first win as a 4-year-old in Saturday's $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park.

Trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, the 2013 champion 3-year-old colt was racing fifth in the six-horse field through much of the 1 1/8-mile stakes. Right to Vote was setting the pace as the 2-5 favorite and Revolutionary trailed.

With Luis Saez in the saddle, Will Take Charge mounted his rally four wide on the turn for home as Revolutionary also began to move. Revolutionary found some tight quarters coming into the stretch while the favorite surged down the middle of the track to the lead.

Will Take Charge did just that by posting a three-quarters length win over Revolutionary followed by Carve, Prayer for Relief, Golden Lad and Right to Vote. Moreno was scratched.

The time for the Oaklawn Handicap was 1:49.55 on a fast track.

Owned by Willis Horton, Will Take Charge snapped a two-race losing streak with the win. The 4-year-old picked up his seventh career victory in 18 starts. The $360,000 puts his bankroll at $3,665,148.

Last year's champion 3-year-old began the year with consecutive seconds in the Donn and Santa Anita Handicaps. He suffered a nose loss to Mucho Macho Man in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.

Will Take Charge won the Pennsylvania Derby and Travers heading into the Breeders' Cup and was second in the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. He closed out his 3-year-old season with a win over Game On Dude in the Clark Handicap.

Will Take Charge paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10. Revolutionary returned $4.00 and $3.20, and Carve paid $4.20 to show.