Ben Diesel, a 2-year-old colt by Will Take Charge and a full brother to Graded stakes winner and multiple Grade 1-placed Will’s Secret made an auspicious career debut on Oct. 31 at Churchill Downs, impressively winning a $120,000 maiden special weight at 1 1/16 miles by 3 ¼ lengths.
With Jon Court aboard for trainer Dallas Stewart, the Horton Stable homebred tracked the early pace from third, racing three-wide around the first turn. He forged to the front under a sustained drive in the lane, and after repelling a challenge in the stretch, he drew clear in the final stages to hit the wire all alone, stopping the clock in 1:45.91.
The son of Will Take Charge is produced from the Giant’s Causeway mare Girls Secret. His full sister Will’s Secret, also a Horton Racing homebred conditioned by Stewart, has won three of 11 career starts and placed in four others en route to a bankroll of $551,300. The dark bay or brown filly won this year’s $300,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) and the Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park and finished third in both the Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland and the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs in subsequent starts.
Will Take Charge is by Champion Sire and sire of sires Unbridled’s Son out of Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady, also the dam of millionaire Take Charge Indy. Will Take Charge stands for $5,000 S&N.
