Will Take Charge Takes Over Travers

It was by all accounts a disappointing 2013 Triple Crown trail for Will Take Charge. He was expected to be a contender in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont stakes, but could only manage a best showing of seventh place in the second of those. But with that behind him, Will Take Charge has rebounded to put his name in the hat for top three-year-old this year, making his case with a thrilling nose victory in the $1,000,000 Grade I Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday.

Wide open field of top three-year-olds in Travers

Coming off a game runner-up finish in the Jim Dandy Stakes behind Belmont champion Palace Malice in late July, Will Take Charge went into the Travers gate in good form, but facing a strong field that included Kentucky Derby winner Orb, as well as Verazzano, whose only lifetime loss had come in the Derby, and his Jim Dandy nemesis in Palace Malice. Tracking a relaxed pace behind front-runner Moreno, the first five horses were separated by less than four lengths as they turned for home, with Moreno and Orb in a battle up front.

WTC digs in and runs them down in deep stretch

As they straightened for home, it initially looked like Orb was going to be able to get there first, although the game Moreno at 31-1 was refusing to give up. Under steady urging from jockey Luis Saez, Will Take Charge emerged through the three path and began to reel them in stride-by-stride. With Moreno coming out just a bit, Will Take Charge determinedly drove up alongside and then just managed to get his head down in the final lunge for the wire. Orb hung on for third, another nose in front of Palace Malice.