East, West speed on collision course in Chick Lang

BALTIMORE – A good, old-fashioned East Coast-West Coast showdown of speed could be in play Saturday at Pimlico when Super Chow meets Havnameltdown in the Grade 3, $200,000 Chick Lang Stakes for 3-year-olds going six furlongs at Pimlico.

Super Chow, based on the East Coast with trainer Jorge Delgado, has won 6 of 8 starts with three listed stakes wins on his résumé. One of his wins came in a first-level allowance at Pimlico last fall.

Super Chow’s only two defeats came in graded stakes, a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special last summer at Saratoga and a second behind General Jim in the Grade 3 Swale at Gulfstream in February. General Jim came out of that race to win the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile two weeks ago at Churchill Downs.

Delgado said the Chick Lang was the target for Super Chow since he won the March 18 Hutcheson Stakes by 5 1/4 lengths at Gulfstream, and he is quite confident coming into Saturday.

“We’re going to win,” Delgado said.

Super Chow had been on the lead early in his first seven starts. Breaking from the rail in the Hutcheson, Super Chow got off a step slow and tracked two dueling leaders. Delgado said it was jockey Chantal Sutherland’s style to ride the horse from off the pace that day.

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“She knew she was the target in the race, they were going to go for her, but she knew she had the best horse,” Delgado said.

Unfortunately, Sutherland recently was injured and will not be able to ride Super Chow on Saturday. Delgado selected Paco Lopez to ride.

“Paco is a great gate rider. We’ve had plenty of luck in the past, hopefully we can get this one,” Delgado said.

Havnameltdown, based on the West Coast with Bob Baffert, has won 4 of 6 starts. He is a three-time graded stakes winner, with his losses coming when second to stablemate Cave Rock in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and second, beaten a head, by Commissioner King in the Group 3, $1.5 million Saudi Derby in Riyadh on Feb. 25.

“He ran his heart out. It was a shame he just got beat, but that stretch is so long and the racetrack is so deep. He was pretty tired when he came back from that race,” Baffert said. “His last couple of works have been really impressive.”

Havnameltdown, who drew the rail, will be ridden by Luis Saez for the first time.

Ryvit has won three consecutive races – including the Bachelor Stakes at Oaklawn Park – for trainer Steve Asmussen with his son Keith aboard for all three wins. Keith Asmussen will be in the saddle Saturday from post 2.

Frosted Departure, fourth in the Pat Day Mile; Prince of Jericho, winner of the Spectacular Bid Stakes at Laurel in July; Prove Right; and Bristol Channel complete the seven-horse field.

The Chick Lang, named for the longtime general manager of the Maryland Jockey Club, goes as race 6.

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