SMARTY JONES STAKES

Will Take Charge adds 2nd lane to Derby road for Lukas, Court

Jockey Jon Court, aboard Will Take Charge (center), crosses the finish line ahead of jockey Paco Lopez, aboard Always in a Tiz (left), and Cliff Berry, aboard Texas Bling, during the Smarty Jones Stakes on Monday afternoon at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.
Jockey Jon Court, aboard Will Take Charge (center), crosses the finish line ahead of jockey Paco Lopez, aboard Always in a Tiz (left), and Cliff Berry, aboard Texas Bling, during the Smarty Jones Stakes on Monday afternoon at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.

— Mom would be proud.

Will Take Charge, owned by Willis Horton of Marshall, overcame an outside post and a wide trip to edge Texas Bling by a neck and win the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds Monday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.

The victory capped a memorable 48 hours for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and jockey Jon Court, who also teamed to win Saturday’s $200,000 Grade III Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds in New Orleans - another Kentucky Derby prep race - with Oxbow.

Will Take Charge’s victory came a decade after his mother, Take Charge Lady, was overhauled in the shadow of the wire and beaten a head by reigning Horse of the Year Azeri in Oaklawn’s $500,000 Grade I Apple Blossom Handicap.

The 1-mile Smarty Jones produced another photo finish, but this time it went to Will Take Charge, who collared Texas Bling on the outside, fittingly in the shadow of the wire.

“This is unbelievable,” Horton said. “He kind of had a rough race. It’s remarkable that he could still win.”

Texas Bling finished a head in front of 9-5 favorite Always in a Tiz, who was followed, in order, by Stormy Holiday,Brown Almighty, Officer Alex, Avare, Best of Birdstone and King Henny in the nine-horse field.

Will Take Charge paid $26.20, $14.60 and $7. Texas Bling paid $15.40 and $6. Always in a Tiz paid $3.

Carrying 115 pounds, Will Take Charge covered a mile over a fast track in 1:38.64.

Arkansas-owned Brown Almighty, the 3-1 second choice, was never a serious factor in his 3-year-old and dirt debut under new rider Corey Nakatani.

“Corey said he was spinning his wheels out there,” trainer Tim Ice said. “He said it wasn’t his day, and the track wasn’t to his liking. He said don’t give up on him on the dirt.”

An endoscopic examination after the race revealed mucus in Brown Almighty’s airway.

Will Take Charge earned $90,000 for his second victory in five lifetime starts and bumped his career bankroll to $184,171.

The chestnut son of Unbridled’s Song was a $425,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase.

In his last start, Will Take Charge finished second, beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Texas Bling, in the $300,000 Springboard Mile Stakes on Dec. 9 at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.

Will Take Charge had a rough trip in the rematch, breaking from post 9, racing six-wide on the first turn, four wide entering the backstretch and three-wide on the second turn.

Texas Bling tracked Southern California shipper Avare from the start and was joined by Will Take Charge approaching the half-mile pole.

Avare set fractions of :23.11and :46.65 for a half-mile, but he began backpedaling near the three-eighths pole, leaving Texas Bling and Will Take Charge to match strides to the wire.

“The race didn’t quite set up today like I handicapped it, but I knew I’d be on the outside,” Court said. “I just hoped I could get into a position and not have to use him too much. Once we hit the stretch, it was just a matter out dueling the other horse to the wire.”

Trainer Danele Durham was ecstatic with the performance of Texas Bling, who won the Springboard at odds of 128-1. He was 18-1 in the Smarty Jones.

“He ran great,” Durham said. “I’m so proud of him. He proved that he belongs here.”

Durham said Texas Bling will be pointed to the $300,000 Grade III Southwest Stakes on Feb. 18.

Next-race plans for Will Take Charge, a half brother to 2012 Florida Derby winner Take Charge Indy, are undecided, but Monday’s victory was worth 10 points on the new “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points system.

Horton already has won the country’s biggest race for 3-year-old fillies, taking the Kentucky Oaks in 2006 with Lemons Forever.

“We’ve thought highly of him since we got him,” Horton said. “We look forward to going forward with him, hopefully to the Derby.”

Sports, Pages 15 on 01/22/2013

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