Jaxon Traveler , the 6-5 favourite in a discipline of six, cruised to a 1 3/4-length victory in Pimlico Race Course‘s Maryland Dash Stakes (G3), the primary graded race on Preakness Stakes Day, Might 21. 

Jaxon Traveler, a constant runner, received his fourth stakes within the Maryland Dash, and garnered his first graded rating. Joel Rosario was up for the victory, by which the winner accomplished six furlongs in 1:09.70. Threes Over Deuces  ran second, ending three lengths forward of Warfare Tocsin .

Bred in Maryland by Dr. and Mrs. Leonard Pineau, Jaxon Traveler sports activities a 6-6-3 mark from 16 begins and has now earned $571,310.

“He is only a lovely, hard-trying horse. We thought it will be good to get him a graded stakes win for his resume as a result of he simply tries,” stated Terry Finley, president and CEO of West Level Thoroughbreds, who owns the 4-year-old colt with Marvin Delfiner. “He is a workmanlike horse. Clearly, he isn’t probably the most gifted sprinter in America, however he is proven up each time. The one time he wasn’t on the board he bought jostled on the gate and he did not get a shot to run, however each different time, he is given it to us. He is the definition of ‘versatility.’”

Profitable coach Steve Asmussen added: “That is his third stakes win right here (in Maryland). This was a serious goal for him, an excellent victory for him and his first graded stakes win.

“When he breaks effectively, he runs effectively. He hit the bottom operating and proved finest. That is who he is all the time been.”

Jaxon Traveler broke on high and rapidly established his spot on the lead via early fractions of :22.95 and :45.55. Warfare Tocsin gave chase however ceded the place spot to Threes Over Deuces after a half-mile. A ultimate quarter in :24.15 sealed the deal for the winner.

“He confirmed pace from the beginning, so I let him go,” Rosario stated. “When he got here to me off the flip, my horse actually responded.”

The Maryland Dash winner is by high sire Munnings   out of the stakes-plaed Pay attention Boy , by After Market . He’s the lengthy stakes winner from his dam, who has 5 starters and 4 winners from six foals. Her unraced foal is a yearling colt by Cross Visitors.

West Level Thoroughbreds, via L.E.B. bought him for $140,000 out of the 2020 Ocala Breeders’ Gross sales Firm’s Dash Sale of 2-Yr-Olds in Coaching from Grassroots Coaching Gross sales. Grassroots had acquired him for $80,000 out of the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from Eaton Gross sales, agent.

Lightening Larry Upends Chick Lang
The $200,000 Chick Lang Stakes (G3) at Pimlico formed up as a showdown between sophomore sprinters Cogburn  and Outdated Homestead , nevertheless it was Lea Farms’ Lightening Larry  who upended the race, pulling off a 12-1 upset after getting six furlongs in 1:09.86.

Lightening Larry was a three-quarter-length winner over Cogburn. It was two lengths again to Chasing Time  in third. Outdated Homestead was fifth.

A chestnut son of Uncaptured , Lightening Larry got here into the Chick Lang off a second-place effort March 27 in Tampa Bay Downs‘ Sophomore Stakes for Florida-breds. He’d been prepping at Monmouth Park with coach Jorge Delgado, with a circle drawn across the Might 21 race.

“We have been coaching for this race, particularly, since February,” stated Delgado. “We used the (Sophomore Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs) as a prep. He completed second and after that we shipped him to Monmouth Park and focused this race.”

Within the Chick Lang Chantal Sutherland was aboard. It was her lone mount at Outdated Hilltop for the afternoon.

Lightening Larry chased Cogburn via splits of :21.87 and :44.14 and wrestled the lead away contained in the eighth pole.

“I do know my horse all the time has a robust end and I knew when he was near the opposite horse (Cogburn), I knew we would win the race,” Delgado stated.

Lea Farms is the nom du course of Charles and Paula Cosgrove who dwell within the Cleveland space.

“They’ve proven full help for me,” Delgado enthused. “They’ve been very, very supportive of my selections.” 

Lightening Larry now has 4 wins and 4 seconds from 9 begins. The winner’s share boosts his profession earnings to $305,610. The Chick Lang was his first exterior of Florida, having received Gulfstream Park‘s Limehouse Stakes on New Yr’s Day.

He’s out of the Malibu Moon mare Moon and Solar and was bred in Sunshine State by Michelle Redding. Jeff Engler, agent, bought Lightening Larry for Lea Farms out of the Choose View consignment of the 2021 Ocala Breeders’ Gross sales March 2-Yr-Olds in Coaching Sale. Engler educated the colt via his first seven begins.

It was a giant win for the up-and-coming Delgado.

“I nonetheless do not know what occurred, however I am comfortable we received the race,” he stated. “This the primary time I’ve had a horse in a giant stakes like this. It is a day I am going to always remember … we’ll exit and have a pleasant dinner.”

Video: Chick Lang S. (G3)