Well-Bred Tapit Colt Will Take It Wins Hanshin Stakes At Churchill

[Wandering Eyes]

In the Hanshin Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sunday, Will Take It (Tapit) was up in the nick of time to take the race for owners Willis Horton and Mandy Pope.

Since coming over from the care of trainer Eddie Milligan, Will Take It has become a mark of consistency. His 2025 campaign has included clearing an allowance condition at Fair Grounds Jan. 4 and a runner-up finish against optional claimers in New Orleans Feb. 1. The colt then won at that level next out at the track Mar. 8 and was second again up the rung in the slop at Keeneland Apr. 25. Facing a salty bunch of optional claimers at Churchill May 22, Will Take It hurdled the crowd with some late inning heroics.

Overlooked at the windows as a 12-1 shot here, the 4-year-old settled towards the rear of the field as Banishing (Ghsotzapper) carved out the fractions up the backstretch. Will Take it began to press the pace to the outside around the far turn. The bay positioned himself in the four path down the lane, came under a drive and surprised the leader with more gas. Fully extended, Will Take It snagged the cash by impressively coming from off the pace.

Trainer Dallas Stewart, whose mentor was icon D.W. Lukas, said after the race, “This one is for D.W.L.”

The winner is his unraced dam's first foal to the races. Lady Take Charge handed Will Take It a full-sister in Fife and Drum, who was purchased by Sinandigan Stable for $1.3-million at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale. This dam is also responsible for a pair of subsequent colts by Into Mischief with the current 2-year-old going to Calumet for $100,000 during the OBS Spring Sale.

Will Take It's second dam is MGISW Take Charge Lady (Dehere) whose productivity was certainly stellar having counted among her offspring Horton stalwart & champion 3-year-old colt Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song). Her produce also includes GI Florida Derby hero Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy) and GI Beholder Mile victress As Time Goes By (American Pharoah). Also of note, she is responsible for the dam of champion 2-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway)–herself the dam of current sire Omaha Beach (War front)–and the dam of Whisper Hill homebred & current sire Charge It (Tapit).

HANSHIN S. PRESENTED BY JRA, $296,000, Churchill Downs, 6-29, 4yo/up, 1m, 1:34.10, ft.
1–WILL TAKE IT, 118, c, 4, Tapit–Lady Take Charge, by War Front. ($700,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Willis Horton Racing LLC and Whisper Hill Farm, LLC; B-Whisper Hill Farm, LLC (KY); T-Dallas Stewart; J-Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. $180,350. Lifetime Record: 17-5-4-1, $542,754.
2–Banishing, 120, g, 5, Ghostzapper–Dowager, by A.P. Indy. ($80,000 4yo '24 FTKHRA). O-Lawrence P. Roman and David Jacobson; B-Godolphin (KY); T-David Jacobson. $58,500.
3–Extra Anejo, 120, h, 5, Into Mischief–Superioritycomplex (Ire), by Hard Spun. ($1,350,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Mt. Brilliant Farm, LLC & Orrin H. Ingram (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $29,250.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 12.18, 2.23, 5.86.
Also Ran: Tumbarumba, Cagliostro, Judge Miller, Saudi Crown, Best Actor.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

WILL TAKE IT ($26.36) TAKES IT!!@b_hernandezjr rode the Tapit (@Gainesway) colt to victory in the $300,000 Hanshin Stakes at @ChurchillDowns. @DallasStewart3 conditions the four-year-old. pic.twitter.com/eYYETGPWxq

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 29, 2025

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