Will Take Charge stormed home to win the $34,000 Preferred Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park Tuesday, June 19 in 1:51.3 for driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Jeff Gillis.
The eye-catching mile of 1:51.3 is the fastest trotting mile this season in Canada.
Returning to Canadian soil after a successful stint in the United States, Will Take Charge left the gate as the even-money choice against six rivals. The Gillis trainee got away fifth in the early-stages and watched a game of musical chairs take place on the front.
Big Rich worked hard to clear rail starter Dancer Hall to lead at the opening-quarter in :27.2. Dancer Hall quickly circled to the top entering the backstretch, but was overtaken immediately by Warrawee Roo, who was parked around the first turn. The new leader reached the half in :56.
Around the final turn, Achille Duharas came first over from fourth and supplied cover for a perfectly-placed Will Take Charge. Warrawee Roo led by a pair of lengths at three-quarters in 1:24.1.
Will Take Charge was fourth lengths from the lead turning for home, but the five-year-old had plenty of fight in him. The Gillis trainee unleashed a :26.3 final-quarter to powerfully track down the leader and prevail in deep stretch for the 1:51.3 score.
Dancer Hall got up the inside to finish second, beat three-quarters of a length, while Warrawee Roo had to settle for third.
Owned by Mac Nichol, Will Take Charge is now seven for 13 this season. The five-year-old gelding made six starts south of the border from April 14 to June 9, winning three of them, including the $150,000 Maxie Lee Memorial. Will Take Charge boosted his 2018 earnings to $236,511 and career earnings to $796,761 with his 19th career victory Monday.
The clocking of 1:51.3 also established a North American season’s best for an older gelding trotter on a seven-eighths of a mile track or bigger.
Will Take Charge paid $4.00 to win.
Live racing resumes Thursday, June 21 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Post time is 7:30 p.m.
(With files from Woodbine Mohawk Park)
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.