Yaupon Ties Stakes Mark in Chick Lang

Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Yaupon ran his unbeaten streak to four with a stakes record-equaling performance Oct. 1 in the Chick Lang Stakes (G3) at Pimlico Race Course.

Run in the fall rather than mid-May, the Chick Lang is a good measure of the 3-year-old sprint division any time of the year, and the son of Uncle Mo  was a handy winner by four lengths, getting six furlongs in 1:09.10. The Heiligbrodts and trainer Steve Asmussen won this race in 2018 with Mitole , who developed into the champion sprint male last year after winning the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita Park. This year's Breeders' Cup Sprint will be held Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

It was the fourth win for Asmussen in the Chick Lang. His other wins came with Holy Boss  (2015) and Lantana Mob (2008), who had the stakes record until Thursday.

The Heiligbrodts (Wavertree Stables, agent) paid $225,000 for Yaupon from East Hickman Bloodstock at the 2019 Ocala Breeders' Sales June Sale of 2-Year-OIds in Training. Bred by William Betz, Lamantia, CocCo Equine, Magers, and Burns, he was a $350,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase by Hoby and Layna Kight from Betz Thoroughbreds. Yaupon's half sister by American Pharoah  sold to Mike Rutherford for $1.2 million at this year's September sale.

Sent off at 3-5, Yaupon showed good speed from the start from post 8 and had an inside trip while pressed by Arkaan early through an opening quarter-mile in :22.77. The pair were two lengths clear of the pack on the bend and a half-mile in :45.11.

Arkaan gave way in the lane as several others tried to make headway on the leaders. Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Double Crown, third in the Smile Sprint Stakes (G3) last time out, rallied for second. Relentless Dancer also rallied and finished 1 1/4 lengths back in third.

"I watched his races, especially his two races at Saratoga Race Course, and I saw that his first jump wasn't really that good. But after that he gave me a good feeling," said Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez, who was aboard the dark bay for the first time. "You have to remind him that he needs to stay there. (Jockey) Joel (Rosario) rode him every step of the way and he ran the same way today. When he got to the quarter pole, he gave me another gear. It's a great feeling when they make you work a little bit the first part, but in the last part of the race they go on."

Velazquez peeked back for competition after five furlongs in :56.99, put away his stick, and hand-rode Yaupon to the wire. The final eighth went in :12.11.

Yaupon broke his maiden by a nose June 20 at first asking at Churchill Downs, then crushed entry-level allowance foes at the Spa before a two-length win in the Aug. 29 Amsterdam Stakes (G2). All four of his starts have come at six panels.

Video: Chick Lang S. (G3)