Undefeated colts stand out in Chick Lang

BALTIMORE – The purse of the Chick Lang Stakes was doubled to $200,000 in 2016 in the hope of having it granted graded status. That result has now been attained, at least partly because of Mitole’s tour de force 6 1/4-length romp in the slop a year ago.

Steve Asmussen, who trains Mitole, will be shooting for his fourth victory in the Grade 3 Lang with the undefeated Pyron after also winning with Holy Boss in 2015 and Lantana Mob in 2008.

Pyron, who has started his career with back-to-back wins at Oaklawn Park, will be a major player in the nine-horse Lang, a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds, but he must face another unbeaten runner in Preamble, who is 3 for 3 for trainer Rodolphe Brisset.

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Preamble won his debut at Churchill Downs last September and then came back to win by a half-length the next month at Keeneland. Following a six-month break, he came from just off the pace to score a 2 3/4-length victory April 6 at Keeneland while stretching out to seven furlongs.

“After he won for the second time we had a meeting with the owners, and based on his running style and physical makeup, we thought he would be a one-turn horse, so there was no point trying to make the Derby or any of those prep races,” Brisset said. “Instead, we gave him time to mature.”

Preamble rejoined Brisset’s stable at Payson Park at the beginning of the year. Although he won his comeback race by open lengths, he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 84, eight points lower than his final start at 2.

“I was very comfortable with his fitness for his first start this year but worried about the seven furlongs,” Brisset said. “He won, but he got a little tired late.”

Preamble comes into the Lang off four works at Keeneland.

Malpais, a winner of two straight for Joe Sharp, and Gladiator King, who has won the Grade 3 Hutcheson and Roar Stakes in his last two outings for Jaime Mejia, figure to set a fast pace. Preamble and Pyron have each shown an ability to ease back off the pace, which may serve them well and help one of them stay perfect.

Evenly matched field in Murphy

The $100,000 James W. Murphy will match a competitive group of 10 3-year-olds, who will square off over one mile on turf.

Two of the more interesting entrants are War Film, who has run well against tough company in Kentucky for trainer Steve Asmussen, and Real News, who is 2 for 3 in sprints for Al Stall Jr. and will be stretching out from 5 1/2 furlongs.

War Film has closed from well back in all four of his starts. He won his debut by three-quarters of a length going a mile at the 2018 Keeneland fall meet and then returned from a five-month layoff to win a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer over the Fair Grounds course.

Sent to Kentucky, he has since finished fourth, beaten 1 1/4 lengths, in the Grade 3 Transylvania at Keeneland and fifth, beaten 1 3/4 lengths in the Grade 2 American Turf on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs.

Real News went wire to wire to win his first start in an off-the-turf sprint at Fair Grounds in January. In March, he got up by a nose in an optional claimer on turf to stay perfect. He finished well last time out in the Palisades Turf Sprint at Keeneland to be second-best to three-time winner Bulletin.

Graham Motion has entered English Bee and Shootin the Breeze. English Bee, who is 2 for 5, has been freshened since early March after finishing fifth, beaten 1 1/4 lengths, in the Columbia Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Sir Barton: A two-horse race?

The first stakes on the 14-race card at Pimlico is the $100,000 Sir Barton, a 1 1/16-mile race restricted to 3-year-olds who have never won an open stakes.

The likely favorites are the Todd Pletcher-trained King for a Day and Top Line Growth, who is conditioned by Kelly Rubley.

King for a Day won a maiden race in his second start at Belmont Park last October when stretched out in distance to 1 1/16 miles. He then was sent to Churchill Downs for the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club. He challenged for the lead on the far turn but was outfinished late and ended up fourth, beaten two lengths.

In preparation for his return, King for a Day has worked four times at the Good Chance Farm of his owner-breeder, the Brunetti family, and seven times for Pletcher at Palm Beach Downs. He was vanned from Florida to Pimlico on Monday.

Top Line Growth earned an 84 Beyer Speed Figure for his 9 1/2-length debut victory going 1 1/16 miles at Laurel Park on April 22. He races for his breeder, the Elkstone Group.