Stevens Pilots Will Take Charge in Alysheba

Willis Horton’s Will Take Charge, winner of the Clark Handicap (Grade I) here last fall and the Oaklawn Handicap (GII) in his most recent start, heads a field of nine for Friday’s  11th running of the $300,000-added Alysheba Presented by Besilu Stables (GII) at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

 

Will Take Charge, who finished eighth in last year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), will be facing three rivals in the Alysheba that finished ahead of him in Derby 139 in runner-up Golden Soul, fourth-place finisher Normandy Invasion and fifth-place finisher Mylute.

 

The Alysheba, named for the 1987 Kentucky Derby winner, and the 29th running of the $300,000-added La Troienne (GI) highlight the undercard on the 12-race Longines Kentucky Oaks program that features six stakes. The La Troienne will feature a field of six fillies and mares in the 1 1/16 miles test.

 

Other stakes on the 12-race program that begins at 10:30 a.m. (all times Eastern) card are the  59th running of the $175,000-added Eight Belles (GIII) at seven furlongs on the main track; the 20th running of the $150,000-added Twin Spires Turf Sprint (GIII) for 4-year-olds and up going five furlongs on the Matt Winn Turf Course, and the 29th running of the $150,000-added Edgewood Presented by Forcht Bank at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

 

Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Will Take Charge failed to make a dent on the Triple Crown trail in 2013. However, he has posted four victories and four runner-up finishes in his past eight starts that include victories in the Travers (GI), Clark Handicap (GI) and the Oaklawn Handicap (GII) in his most recent start.

 

The other runners from Kentucky Derby 139 will be making their first starts at Churchill Downs since last year’s Run for the Roses.

 

Charles Fipke’s Golden Soul, trained by Dallas Stewart, will break from post position six under Robby Albarado.

 

Fox Hill Farms’ Normandy Invasion comes into the Alysheba off a runner-up effort in the New Orleans Handicap (GII). Trained by Chad Brown, Normandy Invasion will break from post position five and be ridden by Javier Castellano.

 

Gold Mark Farm and Whisper Hill Farm’s Mylute, who finished third in the Preakness (GI), is trained by Tom Amoss and will be ridden by Rosie Napravnik. Mylute, who won his 2014 debut, will break from post position three.

 

The field for the Alysheba that goes as the 10th race with a 4:52 p.m. post time, from the rail out, is as follows: Moonshine Mullin (Calvin Borel, 118 pounds), Will Take Charge (Stevens, 123), Mylute (Napravnik, 118), Coin Broker (Corey Lanerie, 118), Normandy Invasion (Castellano, 118), Golden Soul (Albarado, 118), Golden Ticket (Joel Rosario, 118), Appealing Tale (Victor Espinoza, 118) and Bradester (Jose Lezcano, 120).