Obliteration runs past Shane's Wonder late, takes Chick Lang Stakes
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LAUREL, Md. - In 2024, the North American-based 3-year-old Book’em Danno finished second in the Saudi Derby, came back to the U.S. where he became a Grade 1 winner, and a year later was the Eclipse Award-winning sprinter.
The connections of Obliteration can only hope they are on the same trajectory.
On Saturday, in his first start since finishing second in the Saudi Derby in February, Obliteration worked out a nice inside-out trip under Jose Ortiz to win the $150,000 Chick Lang Stakes by 3 1/2 lengths over previously undefeated Shane’s Wonder at Laurel Park.
It was a performance trainer Steve Asmussen hopes will propel Obliteration to Grade 1 success this summer in races such as the Woody Stephens and H. Allen Jerkens, both seven-furlong sprints at Saratoga, where Obliteration won the Grade 3 Sanford as a 2-year-old.
“He’s a talented horse that’s been remarkably versatile that’s given us some very good days,” Asmussen said. “For him to make the trip to Saudi, go through quarantine, come back and beat a quality field the way you expected him to - couldn’t be happier.”
Obliteration stalked the pace from the inside while Shane’s Wonder, under Mychel Sanchez, carved out splits of 22.54 seconds for the quarter and 45.76 for the half-mile. Obliteration had Top Manipulator and then Igniter to his outside into and around the far turn.
Approaching the top of the stretch, Shane’s Wonder opened up a little bit, but that made room for Ortiz to get off the rail and to the outside. Obliteration took over from Shane’s Wonder above the sixteenth pole and drew clear for the handy victory. Shane’s Wonder held second by a nose over Igniter. It was six lengths back to Fulmine, who was followed by Top Manipulator, Magic Wallet and Hollywood Import. Buds Notion scratched.
Obliteration, who returned $3.40 as the favorite, ran six furlongs in 1:09.77, which was .67 faster than the next fastest of three other six-furlong races run on the card prior to race 14. He was almost a full second faster than Bring the Smoke (1:10.73), a 4-year-old who won the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint in the race after the Chick Lang.
“For him to go 1:09-and-3 over this racetrack, he’s very fast,” Asmussen said.
Obliteration, a son of Volatile, now has a record of 4-4-0 from nine starts. He is owned by Leland Ackerlery Racing, James Sherwood, Jode Shupe and John Cilia.
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