Chub Wagon stays perfect with Skipat Stakes victory

BALTIMORE – Favored Chub Wagon remained unbeaten after she rolled to a two-length victory Saturday in the $100,000 Runhappy Skipat Stakes for fillies and mares going six furlongs at Pimlico.

Trained by Guadalupe Preciado, Chub Wagon had won her prior five races in gate-to-wire fashion, but jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. opted to rate her off the early lead in the Skipat. She eased off the rail turning into the stretch, was in full flight at the furlong pole, and had plenty left to hold off Casual's late charge.

"She relaxed more," Ortiz said. "I broke out of there, saw the other speed, and went to Plan B. When I asked her to run, she just went on like a nice horse."
Casual, trained by Steve Asmussen, broke poorly but made up significant late ground to finish second, a nose ahead of Club Car. Pacesetter Dontletsweetfoolya faded to fourth, followed by Never Enough Time, Call On Mischief, and French Empire.

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A 4-year-old Pennsylvania homebred by Hey Chub owned by Daniel J. Lopez and George Chestnut, Chub Wagon completed the distance in 1:09.71 and paid $4.40. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 89.

"The first time I breezed her, you could see the talent right away," Preciado said. "With a good horse, you could see the way they do it."

Chub Wagon won her career debut last fall at Parx Racing by 7 1/2 lengths.

"She ran first time in a waiver maiden," Preciado said. "We decided that we were going to lose money in the purse, but we know she's a beginner and she can run. We didn't know she was going to do that good, but we knew she had ability."

The Skipat is part of the MATCH (Mid-Atlantic Championships) series, which comprises 24 stakes in Maryland and Virginia in 2021 and was one of the major undercard races on the Preakness card.

Preciado didn't mention a potential next start for Chub Wagon, but noted that "we'll take one step higher. She responds every time we ask her."