Mitole dominates Chick Lang Stakes

BALTIMORE – Mitole might have yet to run in a graded stakes, but the way he has performed in his last three starts, including his powerful victory Saturday at Pimlico in the $200,000 Chick Lang Stakes for 3-year-olds, stamps him already as one of the nation’s best sprinters, regardless of age.

Mitole ($2.80) on Saturday set a swift pace and then drew clear with jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. sitting on him as if they were out for a morning breeze. He polished off six furlongs on the sloppy track in 1:09.29, with a final quarter posted of less than 24 seconds. That followed an opening quarter that was posted as 21.67 seconds, an unprecedented split at Pimlico as there’s virtually no run-up at that distance.

“From a standing start,” Mitole’s trainer, Steve Asmussen, marveled after the race. “He’s fast. Special horse.”

Mitole was hounded by Curly’s Rocket during the early going of the race, and then Old Time Revival loomed up three paths wide on the turn. But both could not keep up with the relentless pace set by Mitole, who powered home 6 1/4 lengths best over Still Having Fun, who closed from last for second.

Clouded Judgement was third, another 2 1/4 lengths back, with Asmussen’s other entrant, Pure Shot, fourth. Old Time Revival was eighth and Curly’s Rocket last in the field of nine, reflecting how strong the pace was set by Mitole.

Mitole has now won four times in seven starts, but he is clearly getting faster. He got a lifetime-best Beyer Speed Figure of 107 in his prior start, and likely will flirt with that level in the Lang with a performance this good over this surface. If so, that would give him Beyer figures in excess of 96 in all four of his victories.

Although Mitole is by a Wood Memorial winner, Eskendereya, Asmussen knows what he has and is not going to get cute. The Chick Lang marked the seventh straight race at six furlongs for Mitole, who will be aimed at the Grade 2 Woody Stephens on Belmont Day (June 9) next, then head to Saratoga, where the Grade 1 Allen Jerkens will be his main summer target. And if all goes well, the Breeders’ Cup Sprint would be the main year-end goal.

“His confidence has gotten better and better,” Asmussen said.

“We were concerned today with the conditions, because we thought an off track caused his gate problems,” Asmussen said, referring to a third-place finish in the Gazebo at Oaklawn in February. “We’ve worked with him in the gate. He was in hand today, traveling well.”

Mitole, owned by longtime clients Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, was purchased as a 2-year-old in training 13 months ago for $140,000. He earned $120,000 on Saturday to bring his career total to $348,710, and his bankroll figures to get a whole lot fatter if he holds his form.