Wayne Lukas is pulling out all stops in an attempt to get WILL TAKE CHARGE fit and ready to go 1 1/4 miles off a seven-week layoff. This 17-hands colt worked a mile in 1:41 3/5, picking it up nicely at the end, with a final two eighths in :12 3/5 and :12 1/5. That's a good solid come-home time going a mile. He's bucking history big-time with such a long layoff, but for Thoro-Graph followers, note his fig jumped nine points in the Rebel and was four points faster than his previous high, so perhaps he'll appreciate the layoff. It's just something that hasn't been accomplished since the early part of the 20th century. Only Needles in 1956 came close with a six-week layoff.
Bucking a ton of tradition and history....even his own. Might be one of the best Training Jobs in the history of the Derby if this one wins. Actually doubt he will but dont be surpised because of this patient approach he might be a really good one later. Which would really piss off the haters.
What do you make of his miserable effort over the strip last November?
That might be a bigger issue than the seven weeks.
Could be a factor. He might not like the track. But one thing about this version of Wayne after having gone boom and bust about half a dozen times in his life he is lot more patient with his horses. Economics and Owners might have something to do with that. Just a personal hunch. This horse might have been trying to figure things out. Like Orb the day he fell apart at Belmont Park in a maiden race. Just two different animals between then and now. Doubt it was because he hated Big Sandy that much.
There are probably several ways to read his layoff, but if I have to bet my money I will bet that this character HAD to be laid off. Chances are that he came out of his last much the worse for wear and if the layoff helps him it will only position him to run better somewhere down the road. The Derby was not the logical next race after his last race, which was not fast enough to beat half this field. The only way that he can jump over the faster horses in the Derby is to improve substantially over his last race and THAT is not likely off the layoff. The mile workout suggests to me that he needed a race before the Derby, but was not fit to run in one. Good luck. It\'s your money.
Hey Silver,
Strictly based on the history of Lukas something went wrong with this horse for him not to have run in any of the major preps. Also based on Lukas\' history I also will be betting that one is probably not ready to run in this race yet but is being put in anyway because he qualifies and will give lukas another chance to shine..
His horses have been firing of late so things might change but I am just basing the above on history..
You might be right. I will ask him when I get up there. And whatever he tells.me I will tell you. I will say this those 4 Derby and 13 Triple Crown wins are not accidents. Its been a while but he is energized this spring. He once said the day everybody loves is probably the right time to retire....sounds like he still has a ways to go. And thats not such a bad thing either!!
I\'m giving short odds that DWL is the trainer most likely to have entrants in all
three legs of the Triple Crown.
DRF says Packer legend Paul Hornung is anxious to run in the Derby Trial, get some
points, and come right back in the Derby. No problem says DWL.
When you speak to DWL, tell him it is important to at least one curmudgeonly racing
fan that his owner pay whatever it takes to get the Devil\'s Red and Blue old school
Calumet silks.
DWL 4/45 on the first Saturday in May, Zito 2/25 and TAP 1/31. Tough game this Ky
Derby.
Trainer stats kinda over rated. Shug ofer derby,Chip Wolley 1-1.
Ritchie I hear you are really a lovable guy so i will take everything as half hearted. Serious but with a vein of kidding around.
With that said regarding this When you speak to DWL, tell him it is important to at least one curmudgeonly racing fan that his owner pay whatever it takes to get the Devil\'s Red and Blue old school Calumet silks.
Hey some rich guys collect Baseball Cards, some Stamps, other Art and i guess this guy being a Kentuckian it is Farms. I know when it was originally put up for sale Lexington recruit Woody Stephens old Owner Henryk DeKiawatkowski (no way I spelled that right) to buy the Farm and preserve the name and its tradition. No Rodnye Dangerfields from Caddy shack with a Condo here and Condo there....If you have ever been to Keeneland its no more than a mile away and looks magnifcent. The cost of this kind of upkeep....\"priceless\"....to you and me at least.
4 for 45 is a 9% strike rate. Some guys make a living with this. This is in the Derby no less. Other than some of the near misses I bet he doesnt remember much about those 41. I bet he goes to his grave smiling about those 4.....
BTW-he specifically pointed out that Hornung horse to me in the morning at Saratoga. He got hurt last year so who knows where he is now. But he did beat Orb up there and almost beat Violence. Being born and raised in Louisville and having a horse in the Derby might be one of Paul Hornungs dreams. The guy has won 2 Super Bowls, won a Heissman Trophy, is in the Hall of Fame and married a Playmate. What else does he have left??? I certainly would not want to tell him no lets pass and wait for the Withers....
WTC worked like a Clydesdale on 4/21 awful.Lesser thought of Oxbow doing much better so far.