Triple Crown-nominated Recruiting Ready dominates $200,000 Chick Lang Stakes; Chubby Star takes second against the boys in the James W. Murphy Stakes
Glyndon, Md. (May 20, 2017) – Sagamore Racing had a successful outing in the Preakness Day undercard at Pimlico Race Course prior to the running of the 142nd Preakness Stakes. Three-year-old colt Recruiting Ready dominated the field taking home the victory in the Chick Lang Stakes, followed by an impressive second place finish by three-year-old filly Chubby Star.
Leading from the gate to the finish line in the $200,000 Chick Lang Stakes, the Triple crown-nominated Recruiting Ready proved why he was the 8/5 choice and clear favorite of the six-furlong sprint. Coming out of No. 7 post ridden by jockey Horacio Karamanos, the three-year-old son of retired racing phenomenon Algorithms dominated the field, running six furlongs in 1:10.35 over a muddy main track. With a 9-4-1-2 career record, today’s victory marks Recruiting Ready’s second career stakes victory since capturing the Bachelor Stakes at Oaklawn Park on April 13, 2017.
“It’s a big significance for myself because I just started training. Having Kevin [Plank] and being in Baltimore here, it means a lot for us to be able to win a race like this for him, said Sagamore Racing trainer Horacio de Paz, following his second stakes win with Recruiting Ready. “He’s a strong horse. I was surprised those other horses went with him, but I was comfortable with where he was at the whole way around. He’s learning to run now. He settles a little bit and he’s making that run at the end. We will definitely keep him sprinting for now.”
One race later, Chubby Star took on the boys with an impressive second place finish in the $100,000 James W. Murphy Stakes. The only filly in the race, the three-year-old maneuvered her way through the field and turned it up down the stretch under jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr.
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