Chick Lang Preview: Yaupon Looms Large

BALTIMORE, MD – William and Corinne Heiligbrodt’s Yaupon and his lightning-quick feet loom large in Thursday’s $200,000 Chick Lang Stakes (G3) at Pimlico.

The Chick Lang is a 6-furlong dirt sprint restricted to 3-year-olds. This year’s edition is the penultimate event on a 10-race card and has a local post time of 5:04 PM.

Here’s a look at the full field for the Chick Lang:

1. Little Menace 20/1 – He put together a 5-2-2-0 record earlier in his career while competing exclusively at 6 furlongs, then stretched out to the 1 1/16-mile Grand Prairie Derby. He cuts back to sprinting after failing to hit the board in his past 2 events, both of which were two-turn events.

2. Relentless Dancer 15/1 – He beat three others who show up here in the Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes last time out, his third at that level and first against open company. The Louisiana-bred has done well sprinting; he broke his maiden at 6 1/2 furlongs and won a 7-furlong stakes next time out.

3. Captain Bombastic 12/1 – He owns 3 stakes scores against his fellow New York-breds, all coming in one-turn events. This marks the shortest distance that he’s ever attempted, but he’s won both attempts 6 1/2 furlongs, including the NYSSS Times Square at Saratoga last time out.

4. Blackberry Wine 15/1 – He returns to racing for the first time since suffering a neck defeat against optional claiming rivals at Oaklawn Park in mid-April. His only prior sprint attempt was an off-turf dash at Saratoga in his debut, but trainer Joe Sharp hits at a 22% clip with horses cutting back.

5. Lebda 15/1 – He won 2 of his first 3 starts last year, all at distances shorter than this, then won a pair of stakes at Laurel Park in the spring. After finding the graded levels too deep, he dropped down and finished third in the Robert Hilton Memorial, tiring late after setting the pace.

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6. Double Crown 8/1 – He won 3 of his first 4 starts, including 2 stakes held at 6 1/2 and 7 furlongs. He was most recently third in the Smile Sprint Stakes (G3) while facing older rivals, so he could return to his winning ways as he drops back down to face horses his own age.

7. Dreams Untold 8/1 – He broke his maiden by an eye-popping 14 1/4 lengths in a sloppy 6 1/2-furlong sprint at Parx in January and returns to the stakes level after suffering a terrible trip in the 1-mile Miracle Wood. His record in races 7 furlongs or shorter stands at 5-3-1-1.

8. Pitching Ari 30/1 – He nearly won the Robert Hilton Memorial last time out, taking the lead in the stretch but faltering late and finishing a 1/2-length behind Relentless Dancer. Trainer Claudio Gonzalez and jockey Angel Cruz (aboard for the first time) have a 31% strike rate together.

9. Yaupon 4/5 – The deserving morning line favorite has been perfect in 3 starts, defeating older rivals in his first 2 starts before recording a 2-length score in the Amsterdam Stakes (G2). Each start came while going 6 furlongs and he seems most comfortable on the lead, giving him a major advantage.

10. Arkaan 6/1 – He won his first 2 career starts, each at 6 furlongs and against older horses. He most recently tried routing in the 1 1/16-mile Pegasus Stakes and finished third after setting the pace, so he should be sharp as he cuts back to a proven distance.

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