Three Rules returns to sprinting in Chick Lang Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – After flirting with the Kentucky Derby trail all winter, Three Rules will return to what he does best, sprinting, on Saturday at Pimlico in the six-furlong Chick Lang Stakes.

Three Rules, who along with Gunnevera tops the locally based 3-year-old male division, set the pace in the Grade 1 Florida Derby before weakening to finish fifth behind eventual Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming. Four weeks earlier, Three Rules finished third behind Gunnevera in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth. He launched his 3-year-old campaign by finishing second to Favorable Outcome as the 4-5 favorite in the Grade 2 Swale at seven furlongs.

A Florida-bred son of Gone Astray, Three Rules has not won since completing a sweep of the 2016 Florida Sire Stakes with a one-sided victory in the 1 1/16-mile In Reality seven months ago.

“We’re sure he doesn’t want to go long,” said trainer Jose Pinchin. “But Derby fever is a hell of a thing, especially when you know you have a good horse. You just get carried away a little. But he’s done everything we asked him to do this winter. He’s run against the best and hasn’t run a bad race yet. He only got beat seven lengths by the Derby winner in the Florida Derby, and there’s no disgrace in that. But now it’s time to try to win a race rather than just running in one.”

Three Rules departed for Maryland on Monday. Pinchin, who has 20 horses stabled at Gulfstream Park, will follow later in the week.

“Seven furlongs is probably his max, although we’ll probably look up to a mile if we run him back locally later in the year,” said Pinchin. “It’s all based on the company. We gave him a little break after the Florida Derby, and he’s training as well as he’s ever trained for this race.”

Three Rules has had four works since the Florida Derby, including five furlongs in 58.40 seconds here May 7. Luis Saez, who was aboard in both the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby, will ride Three Rules once again in the Chick Lang.