‘Dude’ and Will Take Charge to meet in Clark

Louisville, KY (SportsNetwork.com) – The runner-up and the beaten favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Classic will headline the field for next week’s $500,000 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Will Take Charge, beaten a nose by Mucho Macho Man, and defeated 17-10 favorite Game On Dude top 19 thoroughbreds nominated to the 139th Clark Handicap on Friday, Nov. 29.

Will Take Charge, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, has finished first or second in his last four starts which include victories in the Travers and Pennsylvania Derby.

“The timing is pretty good,” Lukas said. “I almost wish there was more to the season, because he is good right now. It’s a prestigious race in many ways. It’s a Grade I and if we could get another Grade I against older competition around two turns, I think it would be significant.”

Owned by Willis Horton, the 3-year-old has banked $2.7 million with five wins in 14 career starts.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Game On Dude finished ninth in the Classic on Nov. 2 one year after finishing seventh as the 13-10 favorite in the $5 million race. The 6-year-old gelding has lifetime earnings of $5.6 million with 15 wins in 28 starts.

Game On Dude is owned by a partnership that includes Bernard Sciappa, the Lanni Family Trust, Joe Torre’s Diamond Pride Stable and Mercedes Stable.

Categorized in: Horses