Obliteration takes the Chick Lang Easily, TMJC Photo
Preakness 151 Press Release
LAUREL, MD – Leland Ackerley Racing, James Sherwood, Jode Shupe and John Cilia’s Obliteration, in his first start since finishing second in the Saudi Derby (G1) Feb. 14, rolled past front-running Shane’s Wonder at the eighth pole and went on to a 3 ½-length victory in Saturday’s $150,000 Chick Lang presented by Kaiser Permanente at Laurel Park.
The 51st running of the six-furlong Chick Lang for 3-year-olds was the third of nine stakes, four graded, worth $3.15 million in purses on a spectacular 14-race program headlined by the 151st Preakness Stakes (G1), Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.
Obliteration ($3.40), favored at 3-5 in a field of seven, crossed the wire in 1:09.77 to give Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen his seventh career Chick Lang win following Lantana Mob (2008), Holy Boss (2015), Mitole (2018), Yaupon (2020), Mighty Mischief (2021) and Ryvit (2023).
Jockey Jose Ortiz previously won the Chick Lang with Jack Sisterson-trained Lexitonian in 2019. Obliteration shares identical connections with Preakness contender Chip Honcho.
Shane’s Wonder broke alertly and took the field through a quarter of a mile in 22.54 seconds with Obliteration tracking two wide in second, 25-1 longshot Top Manipulator racing between horses in third and Igniter in the clear four wide in fourth.
Jockey Mychel Sanchez and Shane’s Wonder clung to the lead after a half in 45.76 as Top Manipulator and Igniter moved up to challenge and Obliteration dropped back to fourth before swinging wide once straightened for home and reeling in Shane’s Wonder to earn his fourth win and third in a stakes including last summer’s Sanford (G3) at Saratoga.
Shane’s Wonder nosed out Igniter for second, followed by Fulmine, Top Manipulator, Magic Wallet and Hollywood Import. Buds Notion was scratched.
Run as the Hirsch Jacobs Stakes from its 1975 inception to 2009, the Chick Lang was renamed in honor of the racing industry legend widely known as ‘Mr. Preakness,’ who passed away in 2010 at the age of 83.
$150,000 Chick Lang Quotes
Winning Trainer Steve Asmussen (Obliteration): “He’s an extremely talented horse who’s remarkably versatile that’s given us very good days. For him to make the trip to Saudi, go through quarantine, come back and beat a quality field the way you expected him to, couldn’t be happier.”
“I thought he performed extremely well [in the Saudi Derby], the way the racetrack was playing, the times they were throwing up for the day, I thought it was a true test of the mile. But I think the value to create with him now is to race him shorter. Obviously, the (G1) Allen Jerkens [at Saratoga], races like that, we feel he’s of that caliber.”
“I expect him to have two races between now and [the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. It will all depend on how he comes out of this. For him to go 1:09-and-3 over this racetrack, he’s very fast.”
Winning Jockey Jose Ortiz (Obliteration): “He was traveling very good every step of the way. When I asked him to go, he was there for me.
“Usually when they go overseas, they take a little bit to get back. I trust Steve [Asmussen] 100 percent. He has done this a thousand times and knows what he is doing.
“I rode him before on the turf and I rode him in the Breeders’ Cup (Juvenile Turf Sprint) and he ran good. I’m glad I landed on him here.
“He had plenty of horse. He won easy today; hopefully we’ve got bigger things coming.”
