Dayton, OH — Will Take Charge and McWicked have been installed as the morning line favorites in a pair of $150,000 Dayton Derbies which will be contested this Friday (Sept. 28) at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.
The favored 5-year-old son of Kadabra comes into the Derby off a win in the Open Handicap Trot at Yonkers Raceway two weeks ago. The Jeff Gillis-trainee also won the $186,000 Crawford Farms Trot at Tioga and was runner-up to Marion Marauder in the $286,650 Cashman Memorial at The Meadowlands last month.Will Take Charge, with Tim Tetrick listed to drive, got the slight nod over Homicide Hunter (Scott Zeron), Ariana G (Jimmy Takter) and JL Cruze (Brett Miller) in the talented Trotting Derby field. The nine trotters entered in the race have combined for 214 wins and $8,866,470 in lifetime earnings.
World and Indiana champion Homicide Hunter has won seven of 11 seasonal starts, including the $100,000 final of the Northeast Open Series at Pocono Downs.
Dual Dan Patch Award-winner Ariana G, the lone mare in the race, is the richest participant with a $2,292,709 bankroll. She captured the $405,850 Hambletonian Maturity earlier this year. JL Cruze is the oldest entrant at age 7 and owns the only sub-1:50 speed badge. He has made just four starts since returning to the races recently and was a fast-closing second in the $200,000 Caesars Trot at Hoosier Park last Friday.
Others in the field are Guardian Angel AS (6-1), Moonshiner Hanover (8-1), I Know My Chip (10-1), Bridge To Jesse’s (12-1) and Warrawee Roo (15-1).
Despite drawing the post position eight, McWicked will be the likely betting favorite (2-1 morning line) in the Pacing Derby. The 7-year-old son of McArdle will be seeking his 30th career victory while trying to increase his $3,267,876 bankroll. He won the prestigious $462,000 Canadian Pacing Derby earlier this month for trainer Casie Coleman.
Other contenders—all stakes winners in their own right–are Donttellmeagain (Tim Tetrick, 3-1), Western Fame (Andrew McCarthy, 4-1), Split The House (Scott Zeron, 5-1), Rockin Ron (Chris Page, 6-1), Bit Of A Legend N (Jordan Stratton, 8-1), Beckhams Z Tam (Ricky Macomber Jr., 10-1), All Bets Off (Matt Kakaley, 12-1) and Missile J (Kayne Kauffman, 15-1).
The Pacing Derby field has produced 215 triumphs and earned $13,997,574 in purses.
The $150,000 Dayton Trotting Derby will go as the 10th race on a 14-race program, with an estimated post time of 9:26 p.m. The companion $150,000 Dayton Pacing Derby is slated two races later with a 10:13 p.m. scheduled start.
From Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway