Leading First-Crop sire Will Take Charge will have his first starter in the Breeders’ Cup on Friday when the 2-year-old colt Derby Date breaks from the gate in the $2 million Juvenile (G1) at Churchill Downs.
Though he is still a maiden, Derby Date must be highly regarded under the tutelage of Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, the all-time leading Breeders’ Cup-winning trainer with 20 victories.
Derby Date is owned by his breeder Calumet Farm and is out of the top-class mare Smart and Fancy, who won 11 stakes and placed in 11 more.
Derby Date drew post 3 in the 14-horse field, which will travel 1 1/16-miles. He’ll be ridden by Luis Contreras.
With five stakes horses, including black type winner Kim K, Will Take Charge is a top-five First-Crop sire this year. Three Chimneys recently announced his 2019 stud fee at $30,000 stands and nurses.
The Juvenile is race 9, with a scheduled post of 6:05 p.m. ET.
