Will Take Charge roars to 1:51.3 Preferred score
June 19, 2018,by Mark McKelvie, Woodbine Communications
Milton, ON — Will Take Charge stormed home to win Tuesday’s (June 19) $25,840 Preferred Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park in 1:51.3 for driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Jeff Gillis.
The eye-catching mile of 1:51.3 is the fastest trotting mile this season in Canada.
New Image Media photo
Will Take Charge takes his seventh win of 2018 with an eye-catching 1:51.3 mile Tuesday at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Returning to Canadian soil after a successful stint in the United States, Will Take Charge was sent off as the even-money choice against six rivals. The Gillis trainee got away fifth in the early stages and watched a game of musical chairs take place up front.
Big Rich had to work hard to clear rail starter Dancer Hall to lead at the opening quarter in :27.2. Dancer Hall quickly circled around entering the backstretch, but was overtaken immediately by Warrawee Roo, who was parked around the first turn. The new leader reached the half in :56.
Around the final turn, Achille Duharas came first-up from fourth and supplied cover for a perfectly placed Will Take Charge, but Warrawee Roo maintained the lead by a pair of lengths at three-quarters in 1:24.1. Will Take Charge was four lengths from the lead turning for home, but had plenty of fight in him. The Gillis trainee unleashed a :26.3 final quarter to powerfully track down the leader and prevail in deep stretch for the 1:51.3 score.
Dancer Hall got up the inside to finish second, beaten three-quarters of a length, while Warrawee Roo had to settle for third.
Owned by Mac Nichol, Will Take Charge now has won seven of his 13 races this season. The 5-year-old gelding made six starts south of the border from April 14 to June 9, winning three of them, including the $150,000 Maxie Lee Memorial. Will Take Charge boosted his 2018 earnings to $218,188 and career earnings to $649,089 with his 19th career victory Monday. The clocking of 1:51.3 also established a new North American seasonal best for an older trotting gelding on a seven-eighths of a mile track or bigger.
Will Take Charge paid $4 to win.
Live racing resumes Thursday evening (June 21) at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Post time is 7:30 p.m.