Wishingitwas best in Chick Lang Jr. Memorial

A week after owner-trainer Bart Evans won one of the richest stakes of the Retama Park meet with Almost Certain, he sent out the colt's half-brother, Wishingitwas, to win the track's $40,000 Chick Lang Jr. Memorial on Saturday night. A week ago, Almost Certain won the $100,000 Ketel One El Joven.

Wishingitwas ($5.40) settled in behind pacesetter Charming Socialite in the Lang, as that one led the field through an opening quarter in 23.85 seeconds, and a half-mile in 46.97 seconds. Wishingitwas overtook the leader after six furlongs in 1:11.57, and went on to cover the one-mile for 3-year-olds and up in 1:37.74.

Jeremy Beasley rode the winner for Evans.

Charming Socialite held second, finishing two and a half lengths behind Wishingitwas. It was another nose back in third to favorite Agrivating General.

Wishingitwas earned $24,000 for the win, and overall has a record of six wins from 29 starts for earnings of $231,860. Wishingitwas is by Sandpit and out of the mare Wishes and Roses. Almost Certain is from the same mare, but is a son of Favorite Trick.