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Will Take Charge (foaled April 13, 2010) is a retired American
Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...
racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...
. Trained by
D. Wayne Lukas Darrell Wayne Lukas (born September 2, 1935, in Antigo, Wisconsin) is a retired American horse trainer and a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee. He has won twenty Breeders' Cup races, received five Eclipse Awards for his accomplishments, and his h ...
, the horse is best known for his wins in the 2013
Travers Stakes The Travers Stakes is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. It is nicknamed the "Midsummer Derby" and is the third-ranked race for American three-year-olds accor ...
and
Clark Handicap The Clark Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late November at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Among the oldest races in the United States, it was first run in 1875, the year the racetrack opened for business. C ...
and for being beaten by a nose in the 2013
Breeders' Cup Classic The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3-year-olds and older run at a distance of on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States as part of the Breeders' Cup World Champion ...
. He was named
American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse The American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971. The award originated in 1936 when ''Turf & Sports Di ...
for 2013. He was retired in September, 2014, and stands at stud at
Three Chimneys Farm Three Chimneys Farm is an American Thoroughbred race horse breeding farm in Midway, Kentucky, established in 1972 by Mr. & Mrs. Robert N. Clay. Three Chimneys has been home to a number of famous horses including U.S. Triple Crown champion Sea ...
.


Background

Will Take Charge is a
chestnut The chestnuts are the deciduous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Castanea'', in the beech family Fagaceae. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Description ...
colt with a broad white blaze and three high white
stockings Stockings (also known as hose, especially in a historical context) are close-fitting, variously elastic garments covering the leg from the foot up to the knee or possibly part or all of the thigh. Stockings vary in color, design, and transparen ...
who stands over , making him an unusually large Thoroughbred. He was sired by the
Breeders' Cup Juvenile The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is a Thoroughbred horse race for 2-year-old colts and geldings raced on dirt. It is held annually in late October or early November at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup W ...
winner
Unbridled's Song Unbridled's Song (February 18, 1993 – July 26, 2013) was an American thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Florida Derby and Wood Memorial. He was the favorite for the 1996 Kentucky Derby but suffered a cr ...
, whose other major winners included the sprinter
Zensational Zensational (foaled April 26, 2006) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his performances over sprint distances. Background Zensational is a gray or roan colt, bred in Kentucky. He was sired by Unbridled's Song Unbridled's S ...
and the Breeders' Cup winners
Unrivaled Belle Unrivaled Belle (foaled 2006) is a gray/roan American Thoroughbred racehorse owned and bred in Kentucky by Gary Seidler & Peter Vegso. She is a daughter of champion sire and champion racehorse Unbridled's Song, a descendant of the very influent ...
,
Unbridled Elaine Unbridled (March 5, 1987 – October 18, 2001) was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1990 Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic. He retired with a career record of eight wins, six places, and six shows in 24 starts, ...
, and
Arrogate Arrogate (April 11, 2013June 2, 2020) was a Thoroughbred racehorse, and was the richest horse in equine history (by earnings). He won the 2016 Travers Stakes in a record time in his first stakes appearance. He won the Breeders' Cup Classic a ...
. Will Take Charge's dam, Take Charge Lady, was a top-class race mare whose wins included the
Ashland Stakes The Ashland Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early April at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. It and the Ashland Oaks, the Kentucky Association racetrack's predecessor race, were named fo ...
and successive runnings of the
Spinster Stakes The Spinster Stakes (also known as the "Juddmonte Spinster" with Juddmonte Farms sponsorship) is an American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares aged three or up run annually in early October at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentuc ...
. She is also the dam of the
Florida Derby The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Since 2005, it has been run five weeks before the Kentucky Derby, which is held on the first Saturd ...
winner
Take Charge Indy Take Charge Indy (foaled 27 March 2009) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. His win in the 2012 Florida Derby saw him regarded as a contender for the Triple Crown races, but an injury sustained in the Kentucky Derby ruled him out for most of ...
. In September 2011, the
yearling Yearling may refer to: *Yearling (horse), a horse between one and two years old *''The Yearling ''The Yearling'' is a novel by American writer Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, published in March 1938. It was the main selection of the Book of the ...
was consigned by the Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency to the
Keeneland Keeneland Association, Inc. is an equine business based in Lexington, Kentucky. It includes two distinct divisions: the Keeneland Race Course, a Thoroughbred racing facility, and Keeneland Sales, a horse auction complex. It is also known for ...
sales where he was bought for $425,000 by Willis D. Horton. of
Three Chimneys Farm Three Chimneys Farm is an American Thoroughbred race horse breeding farm in Midway, Kentucky, established in 1972 by Mr. & Mrs. Robert N. Clay. Three Chimneys has been home to a number of famous horses including U.S. Triple Crown champion Sea ...
. The colt was sent into training with the veteran
D. Wayne Lukas Darrell Wayne Lukas (born September 2, 1935, in Antigo, Wisconsin) is a retired American horse trainer and a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee. He has won twenty Breeders' Cup races, received five Eclipse Awards for his accomplishments, and his h ...
.


Racing career


2012: two-year-old season

Will Take Charge was ridden in all his 2012 races by
Jon Court Jon Kenton Court (born November 26, 1960, in Gainesville, Florida) is a retired American jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. Having grown up in Florida, Jon Court began riding in Colorado at the now closed Centennial Park in 1980. He rode in L ...
. He began his racing career by finishing fifth in a five and a half
furlong A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to any of 660 foot (unit), feet, 220 yards, 40 rod (unit), rods, 10 chain (unit), chains, or a ...
maiden race In horse racing, a maiden race is an event for horses that have not won a race. Horses that have not won a race are referred to as maidens. Maiden horse races are held over a variety of distances and under conditions with eligibility based on the s ...
at
Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track located on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs, New York, Saratoga Springs, New York (state), New York, United States. Opened in 1863, it is often considered to be the oldest major sporting v ...
on August 16, 2012. After a break of two months, he reappeared in a seven furlong maiden at Keeneland and recorded his first success, coming from well off the pace with a strong run on the wide outside to win by a
length Length is a measure of distance. In the International System of Quantities, length is a quantity with Dimension (physical quantity), dimension distance. In most systems of measurement a Base unit (measurement), base unit for length is chosen, ...
from Hard Aces. The colt was then moved up in class for the
Grade Grade most commonly refers to: * Grading in education, a measurement of a student's performance by educational assessment (e.g. A, pass, etc.) * A designation for students, classes and curricula indicating the number of the year a student has reach ...
II
Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes The Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the last week of November at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. A Grade II event, the race is open to two-year-olds willing to race one and one-sixtee ...
at
Churchill Downs Churchill Downs is a horse racing complex in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States that hosts the annual Kentucky Derby. It opened in 1875 and was named for Samuel Churchill, whose family was prominent in Kentucky for many years. The first ...
in November and finished last of the thirteen runners. On his final appearance of the year, he finished second to Texas Bling in the Springboard Mile at
Remington Park Remington Park is a horse racing track and casino located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Built in 1988 by Edward J. DeBartolo Sr., it was the first world-class pari-mutuel track in Oklahoma. Since 2010, Global Gaming RP has owned and operated the r ...
.


2013: three-year-old season

In early 2013, Will Take Charge was campaigned at
Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, formerly Oaklawn Park Race Track, is an American thoroughbred racetrack and casino in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is the home to "The Racing Festival of the South", a four-day series of races that concludes with the ...
in
Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the West South Central region of the Southern United States. It borders Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, and Oklahoma ...
. On January 21, he produced a "spirited drive" to reverse his previous defeat by Texas Bling, winning by a neck in the Smarty Jones Stakes, but when moved up in class he finished unplaced behind Super Ninety Nine on a sloppy track in the Grade III
Southwest Stakes The Southwest Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt run annually in late January at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The event c ...
. In the Grade II
Rebel Stakes The Rebel Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles run on dirt each February at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas. As of 2024, it offers a p ...
on March 16, he started a 28-1 outsider in a strong field which included Super Ninety Nine, Texas Bling and the subsequent
Preakness Stakes The Preakness Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually on Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland (except in 2026 when it will move to Laurel Park (race track), Laurel Park dur ...
winner,
Oxbow __NOTOC__ An oxbow is a U-shaped metal pole (or larger wooden frame) that fits the underside and the sides of the neck of an ox or wikt:bullock, bullock. A bow pin holds it in place. The term "oxbow" is widely used to refer to a U-shaped meand ...
. Under Court, Will Take Charge made a strong late run to catch Oxbow in the final strides and win by a head. The colt left Oaklawn after his win in the Rebel Stakes to contest the Triple Crown races but had little success. He finished eighth behind Orb in the
Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby () is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is run by three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of . Colt (horse), Colts and geldin ...
, seventh behind Oxbow in the Preakness, and tenth behind
Palace Malice Palace Malice (born May 2, 2010) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2013 Belmont Stakes. After winning one minor race as a two-year-old he made steady improvement in the early part of 2013, being placed in the Rise ...
in the
Belmont Stakes The Belmont Stakes is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is run over the worldwide classic distance of . Colt (horseracing), Colt ...
. He returned after a break to contest the
Jim Dandy Stakes The Jim Dandy Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race. The Grade II race has been held annually since 1964 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The race is open to horses age three over one and one-eighth miles on the dirt. ...
at Saratoga on July 27. Ridden by the
Venezuelan Venezuelans (Spanish language, Spanish: ''venezolanos'') are the Citizenship, citizens identified with the country of Venezuela. This connection may be through citizenship, descent or cultural. For most Venezuelans, many or all of these connect ...
jockey
Junior Alvarado Junior Rafael Alvarado (born May 20, 1986) is a Venezuelan jockey who competes in the sport of American Thoroughbred horse racing. He rode the winning horse in the 2025 Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. Background His father, Rafael Alvar ...
, he stayed on in the straight to finish second by a length to Palace Malice, two and a quarter lengths clear of Moreno, who finished third. After that race, Lukas removed the blinker hood that the horse had previously worn and changed jockeys to the "up and coming"
Panamanian Panamanians (; feminine ) are people identified with Panama, a country in Central America (which is the central section of the American continent), and with residential, legal, historical, or cultural connections with North America. For most Pan ...
Luis Saez Luis Saez (born May 19, 1992) is a Panamanian jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. Saez rode Maximum Security to finish first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby but was subsequently disqualified due to interference. The two later won the world's ...
. On August 24, Will Take Charge started at odds of 9.6-1 for the Grade I Travers Stakes against a field which included Orb, Palace Malice and
Haskell Stakes The Haskell Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run over a distance of miles on the dirt held annually in July at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. The event is a signature event at Monmouth P ...
winner Verrazano. He produced a strong late run to lead in the last stride and win by a nose over the front-running Moreno. Orb was third, Palace Malice was fourth and Verrazano was seventh of the nine runners. Lukas, winning the race for the third time, said that Will Take Charge was "just starting to find himself. This is a horse who's going to get better. He's getting his act together." Claims by the trainer of Moreno that Saez had used an illegal "electrical device" to encourage the horse were rejected after a lengthy investigation by the
New York State Gaming Commission The New York State Gaming Commission is the official governing body that oversees casino gaming, charitable gaming, horse racing, lottery, and video lottery terminals in New York State. Based in Schenectady, it was formed on February 1, 2013, ...
, which stated that the complaint was "wholly unsubstantiated." Will Take Charge faced Moreno again in the
Pennsylvania Derby The Pennsylvania Derby is a race for thoroughbred horses run at Parx Racing and Casino (formerly known as Keystone Race Track, then from 1986 through 2010 as Philadelphia Park) each year. The track's premiere event is open to horses, age three, a ...
over nine furlongs at
Parx Parx Casino and Racing (formerly Philadelphia Park Racetrack and Casino) is a Thoroughbred horse racing venue and the largest casino gaming complex in Pennsylvania. Parx is located in Bensalem Township in Bucks County, northeast of the city of ...
on September 21. He conceded two pounds to his main rival and improved on his Travers performance, beating Moreno by two and a quarter lengths. On November 2, Will Take Charge started at odds of 13-1 for the Breeders' Cup Classic in a strong field which included
Game On Dude Game On Dude (foaled April 26, 2007 in Kentucky) is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse gelding. He won fourteen graded stakes races, including eight Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes: the Santa Anita Handicap in 2011, 2013, and 2014 the on ...
(the favorite), Paynter,
Palace Malice Palace Malice (born May 2, 2010) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2013 Belmont Stakes. After winning one minor race as a two-year-old he made steady improvement in the early part of 2013, being placed in the Rise ...
,
Mucho Macho Man Mucho Macho Man (foaled June 15, 2008) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2013 Breeders' Cup Classic. He was foaled in Florida and named after the Village People song " Macho Man". His breeders were Carole and John Rio of Flori ...
,
Fort Larned Fort Larned National Historic Site preserves Fort Larned which operated from 1859 to 1878. It is approximately west of Larned, Kansas, Larned, Kansas, United States. History The Camp on Pawnee Fork was established on October 22, 1859, to pr ...
and Flat Out as well as the European challenger
Declaration of War A declaration of war is a formal act by which one state announces existing or impending war activity against another. The declaration is a performative speech act (or the public signing of a document) by an authorized party of a national gov ...
. Ridden by Saez, Will Take Charge settled behind the leaders before rallying on the outside in the straight. He failed by a nose to catch Mucho Macho Man, with Declaration of War a head away in third place. On November 29, he started the 12-5 second favorite behind Game On Dude in the
Clark Handicap The Clark Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late November at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Among the oldest races in the United States, it was first run in 1875, the year the racetrack opened for business. C ...
over nine furlongs at Churchill Downs. Settled in midfield by Saez, he produced a sustained run in the straight to catch Game On Dude in the final strides and won by a head. He finished the year as the number two-ranked horse in purse wins in the US behind Mucho Macho Man but ahead of both Game on Dude and Orb. In late December, Willis Horton announced that he had sold a 50% share in the horse to
Three Chimneys Farm Three Chimneys Farm is an American Thoroughbred race horse breeding farm in Midway, Kentucky, established in 1972 by Mr. & Mrs. Robert N. Clay. Three Chimneys has been home to a number of famous horses including U.S. Triple Crown champion Sea ...
, with an agreement that Will Take Charge would remain in training with Lukas for the 2014 season. After that, it is anticipated that he will be retired to stud. In January 2014, Will Take Charge was named Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse at the
Eclipse Awards The Eclipse Award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th-century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. An Eclipse Award Trophy is presented to the winner in each division. The trophy is made by a few small selected Am ...
, taking 231 of the 247 votes: he also finished third to
Wise Dan Wise Dan (foaled February 20, 2007) is a champion American Hall of Fame and Canadian Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse. He is the first horse to win the same three Eclipse Awards in consecutive years, having been named American Horse of the ...
and
Mucho Macho Man Mucho Macho Man (foaled June 15, 2008) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2013 Breeders' Cup Classic. He was foaled in Florida and named after the Village People song " Macho Man". His breeders were Carole and John Rio of Flori ...
in the poll for
American Horse of the Year The American Award for Horse of the Year, or simply Horse of the Year, one of the Eclipse Awards, is the highest honor given in American thoroughbred horse racing. Because Thoroughbred horse racing in the United States has no governing body to san ...
.


2014: four-year-old season

Will Take Charge hit the board in five of his six starts in 2014. began his third season in the Grade I
Donn Handicap The Donn Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually from 1959 through 2016 at Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park is a Thoroughbred racing, Thoroughbred horse race track, casino and outdoor entertainment and shopping destinati ...
at Gulfstream Park on 9 February. Carrying top weight of 123 pounds, he started the 6/4 favourite, but although he made late progress he was late beginning his trademark move from the back and was beaten one and a half lengths by the five-year-old Lea. In his next start, he contested top-class horses in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at Santa Anita Park. He stalked the leaders in third and passed Blingo rounding the final turn but could not get past Game on Dude, who won by 1 3/4 lengths. On 15 June, Will Take Charge started favourite for the
Stephen Foster Handicap The Stephen Foster Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three and older over a distance of miles on the dirt run annually in mid-June at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is named in honor of famed ...
at Churchill Downs and finished second to the six-year-old Moonshine Mullin, to whom he was conceding five pounds. On August 2 the colt started the 4.1/1 second favourite for the
Whitney Handicap The Whitney Stakes (run as the Whitney Handicap through 2013 and still sometimes referred to as such) is an American Grade 1 stakes race for Thoroughbred racehorses four years of age and older run at a distance of miles. The current purse is $1, ...
at Saratoga in which he carried 124 pounds (equal highweight with Palace Malice). He stayed on steadily in the straight but was unable to reach the leaders and finished third of the nine runners behind the wire-to-wire winner Moreno. On September 21, 2014, following a "mild strain to a branch of his suspensory apparatus", he was retired to stud, his connections deciding that his value at stud justified retirement over further racing.


Retirement and stud career

Will Take Charge entered the stud farm at
Three Chimneys Farm Three Chimneys Farm is an American Thoroughbred race horse breeding farm in Midway, Kentucky, established in 1972 by Mr. & Mrs. Robert N. Clay. Three Chimneys has been home to a number of famous horses including U.S. Triple Crown champion Sea ...
in 2015. In 2020 and 2021 Will Take Charge stood at Haras Phillipson in
Uruguay Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast, while bordering the Río de la Plata to the south and the A ...
. Will Take Charge sired a South American champion in Esidio, who was named champion older horse and champion stayer in
Peru Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...
for 2020. In 2022, Will Take Charge stood at
Three Chimneys Farm Three Chimneys Farm is an American Thoroughbred race horse breeding farm in Midway, Kentucky, established in 1972 by Mr. & Mrs. Robert N. Clay. Three Chimneys has been home to a number of famous horses including U.S. Triple Crown champion Sea ...
for $5,000. In November 2022, Will Take Charge was moved to Japan to stand stud at Darley Japan Farm. As of 2024, he is standing at Darley Japan Farm for 1.2 million
yen The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third-most traded currency in the foreign exchange market, after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a third reserve currency after the US dollar and the euro. T ...
.


Notable progeny

'c = colt, f =
filly A filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare. There are two specific definitions in use: *In most cases, a ''filly'' is a female horse under four years old. *In some nations, such as the United Kingdom and the United States ...
'', g =
gelding A gelding (Help:IPA/English, /ˈɡɛldɪŋ/) is a castration, castrated male horse or other equine, such as a pony, donkey or a mule. The term is also used with certain other animals and livestock, such as domesticated Camelidae, camels. By compa ...
''


Pedigree


References

{{reflist, 30em 2010 racehorse births Racehorses bred in Kentucky Racehorses trained in the United States Thoroughbred family 22-c Eclipse Award winners