It's been 10 years since 21-year-old Jorge Delgado arrived in the U.S. from Venezuela and on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., he scored his biggest career win when Lightening Larry, a Florida-bred colt by Uncaptured, took the Grade 3, $200,000 Chick Lang Stakes under Chantal Sutherland. It was Delgado's first graded stakes success.
Lightening Larry prompted pacesetter Cogburn throughout, edging to the front in midstretch and holding sway to beat the 2-1 favorite by three-quarters of a length. Chasing Time, who like Cogburn is trained by five-time Chick Lang Stakes winner Steve Asmussen, finished another two lengths back in third, with Alottahope fourth and previously unbeaten Old Homestead fifth in a field of eight 3-year-olds.
Lightening Larry sped six furlongs in 1:09.86 after Cogburn led the way through fractions of :21.87, :44.14, and 56.52. Ownec by Lea Farms LLC, he paid $26 for the win, his fourth in nine career starts.
Sutherland, who like Delgado is based in South Florida, was recording her first graded stakes victory since 2014. After launching her career in Canada in 2000 and enjoying considerable success there, Sutherland had her best years in California a decade ago, riding the likes of multiple G1 winner Game On Dude. Her career was revived with her decision to ride year-round in South Florida and she showed in the Chick Lang she can still get the job done in big races. She was riding Lightening Larry for the first time.
Lightening Larry, produced from the Malibu Moon mare Moon and Sun, was bred in Florida by Michelle Redding. He was a $50,000 OBS March 2-Year-Old Sale purchase from Pick View consignment. His only stakes triumph prior to the Chick Lang came in the Limehouse Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 1 of this year.
The race honors the memory of Charles John “Chick” Lang, known throughout the racing world as “Mr. Preakness” for his relentless promotion of Maryland racing in general and the Triple Crown's middle jewel in particular. Son of a Kentucky Derby-winning jockey, Lang spent his lifetime working at the track, retiring as Pimlico's general manager in 1987, then continuing to promote the sport until his death in 2010.
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