Will Take It prevails in the Hanshin over Banishing (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Will Take It fought his way past a determined Banishing in the final strides to win Sunday’s 72nd running of the $296,000 Hanshin Stakes presented by JRA (Listed) at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Dallas Stewart, a longtime assistant to Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, Will Take It surged to the lead inside the sixteenth pole and held off Banishing by a neck at the wire. The victory came soon after it was announced Lukas passed away at age 89.
“This one is for D.W.L.,” Stewart said.
Sent off at 12-1, Will Take It returned $26.36 for a $2 win bet and completed one mile over a fast track in 1:34.10 under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.
The early stages of the Hanshin featured a three-way duel as Banishing, Best Actor and Saudi Crown all vied for position through a sharp opening quarter mile in :22.64. With the duo battling up front, Hernandez positioned Will Take It in fifth, about two lengths off the leaders.
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
Around the far turn, Hernandez guided Will Take It to the two path, then tipped four-wide at the top of the stretch. In deep stretch, Banishing continued to battle between Will Take It and a rail rallying Extra Anejo. At the line, Will Take It got the better of Banishing to score his fifth lifetime victory.
Banishing held second over Extra Anejo. They were followed by Tumbarumba, Cagliostro, Judge Miller, Saudi Crown, and Best Actor.
Owned by Willis Horton Racing and Whisper Hill Farm, Will Take It is a 4-year-old son of Tapit out of the War Front mare Lady Take Charge, bred in Kentucky by Whisper Hill Farm.
Sunday’s win worth $180,350 helped boost Will Take It’s earnings to $542,754.
