Champion Will Take Charge breezed a bullet half-mile March 2 at Oaklawn Park in his final local workout ahead of a tantalizing showdown with Mucho Macho Man and Game On Dude in the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I).
The Big 'Cap is March 8 at 1 1/4 miles.
Willis Horton and Three Chimney Farm's Unbridled's Song colt was timed in :47 4/5, the fastest of 74 moves at the distance. The workout was the final of three half-mile drills for trainer D. Wayne Lukas at the Hot Springs, Ark, track since the colt finished second, 1 1/2 lengths behind Lea, in the Donn Handicap (gr. I) Feb. 9 at Gulfstream Park in his season debut.
Will Take Charge, whose dam is multiple grade I winner Take Charge Lady, is to ship from Oaklawn to Southern California Monday, March 3.
The colt was crowned champion 3-year-old male of 2013 after finishing a second by a nose to Mucho Macho Man in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park, and subsequently besting Game On Dude by a head in the Clark Handicap (gr. I) Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs.
He is assigned 123 pounds for Big 'Cap, one less than highweight Mucho Macho Man. Game On Dude, whose seven grade I wins include Big 'Cap victories in 2011 and 2013, is assigned 122 pounds.
