Will Take Charge, McWicked favored in Friday’s Dayton Derbies
September 24, 2018,from Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway
Dayton, OH — Will Take Charge and McWicked have been installed as the morning line favorites in a pair of $150,000 Dayton Derbies which will be contested this Friday (Sept. 28) at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.
New Image Media photo
Despite leaving from post eight, McWicked, shown here winning the Canadian Pacing Derby earlier this month, is the 2-1 morning line favorite for the $150,000 Dayton Pacing Derby.
Will Take Charge, with Tim Tetrick listed to drive, got the slight nod over Homicide Hunter (Scott Zeron), Ariana G (Jimmy Takter) and JL Cruze (Brett Miller) in the talented Trotting Derby field. The nine trotters entered in the race have combined for 214 wins and $8,866,470 in lifetime earnings.
The favored 5-year-old son of Kadabra comes into the Derby off a win in the Open Handicap Trot at Yonkers Raceway two weeks ago. The Jeff Gillis-trainee also won the $186,000 Crawford Farms Trot at Tioga and was runner-up to Marion Marauder in the $286,650 Cashman Memorial at The Meadowlands last month.
World and Indiana champion Homicide Hunter has won seven of 11 seasonal starts, including the $100,000 final of the Northeast Open Series at Pocono Downs.
Dual Dan Patch Award-winner Ariana G, the lone mare in the race, is the richest participant with a $2,292,709 bankroll. She captured the $405,850 Hambletonian Maturity earlier this year. JL Cruze is the oldest entrant at age 7 and owns the only sub-1:50 speed badge. He has made just four starts since returning to the races recently and was a fast-closing second in the $200,000 Caesars Trot at Hoosier Park last Friday.
Others in the field are Guardian Angel AS (6-1), Moonshiner Hanover (8-1), I Know My Chip (10-1), Bridge To Jesse’s (12-1) and Warrawee Roo (15-1).
Despite drawing the post position eight, McWicked will be the likely betting favorite (2-1 morning line) in the Pacing Derby. The 7-year-old son of McArdle will be seeking his 30th career victory while trying to increase his $3,267,876 bankroll. He won the prestigious $462,000 Canadian Pacing Derby earlier this month for trainer Casie Coleman.
Other contenders—all stakes winners in their own right–are Donttellmeagain (Tim Tetrick, 3-1), Western Fame (Andrew McCarthy, 4-1), Split The House (Scott Zeron, 5-1), Rockin Ron (Chris Page, 6-1), Bit Of A Legend N (Jordan Stratton, 8-1), Beckhams Z Tam (Ricky Macomber Jr., 10-1), All Bets Off (Matt Kakaley, 12-1) and Missile J (Kayne Kauffman, 15-1).
The Pacing Derby field has produced 215 triumphs and earned $13,997,574 in purses.
The $150,000 Dayton Trotting Derby will go as the 10th race on a 14-race program, with an estimated post time of 9:26 p.m. The companion $150,000 Dayton Pacing Derby is slated two races later with a 10:13 p.m. scheduled start.
- Tetrick looks for big night in Dayton (Thursday, September 27, 2018)
Tim Tetrick is on the verge of extending his record for consecutive $10-million seasons to 12 — he needs $251,403 to accomplish the feat — and is grateful to drive a group of workmanlike horses that have helped get him there. Tetrick will drive two of those horses Friday at Hollywood Dayton Raceway: Will Take Charge in the $150,000 Dayton Trotting Derby and Donttellmeagain in the $150,000 Dayton Pacing Derby. Will Take Charge is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in his race while Donttellmeagain is the 3-1 second choice in his.