Drawn widest in a field of 11 for Saturday's Chick Lang Stakes at Pimlico, Retribution found another gear in the final 150 yards to become the 11th first-crop stakes winners (from 120 starters entering Saturday's action) for champion 2024 freshman sire Vekoma.
One of the first to break the line, the $87,000 Keeneland September acquisition was a forward factor early on, then retreated to sit just ahead of midfield as favored One Nine Hundred (Dialed In) blazed an opening quarter in :22.86.
Advancing three or four off the inside around the turn, Retribution rolled up to join the favorite to his outside at the midstretch marker and poked his head in front as Ancient World (Into Mischief), steadied on the backstretch run and short of room for a few strides thereafter, made ominous headway. One Nine Hundred called it a day at midstretch, but Retribution kicked on smartly in the final furlong to post a decisive score from Touchy (Nyquist) and Ancient World.
One race after stablemate Ahavah (City of Light) made a successful racecourse debut at the Fair Grounds Feb. 15, Retribution made it a rolling double for the barn with a 1 1/2-length success at odds of 11-2. The colt was last seen finishing a respectable third behind the impressive Gunmetal (Gun Runner) when trying winners for the first time at Keeneland Apr. 8.
The second of two black-type winners for his dam, a six-time scorer at the races, Retribution is a half-brother to the filly Princeofpuntamita (Blame), a $270,000 purchase by BSW/Crow Colts Group at Keeneland September last fall, and a yearling colt by Aloha West. Granny's Drink was most recently covered by the latter's sire Hard Spun. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
CHICK LANG S., $150,000, Pimlico, 5-17, 3yo, 6f, 1:11.27, ft.
1–RETRIBUTION, 118, c, 3, by Vekoma
1st Dam: Granny's Drink, by Old Fashioned
2nd Dam: Cintarosa, by Grand Slam
3rd Dam: Silver Stockings, by Seattle Sleet
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. ($87,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Belladonna Racing LLC, Twin Brook Stables, Woodford Racing LLC, B.C.W.T. Ltd, Savvy Stables, GRC Racing LLC & Taylor Creek; B-Andrea McNeely Harden (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux; J-Irad Ortiz Jr. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $134,400. *1/2 to Grannys Connection (Connect), SW, $268,050.
2–Touchy, 118, c, 3, Nyquist–Touch the Moon, by Malibu Moon. O-Three Chimneys Farm LLC (Goncalo B Torrealba); B-Three Chimneys Farm LLC (KY); T-Wesley A Ward. $30,000.
3–Ancient World, 122, g, 3, Into Mischief–Thirteen Arrows, by Indian Charlie. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. ($525,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable; B-Fifth Avenue Bloodstock & Glenwood Breeding (KY); T-Joe Sharp. $15,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1 3/4, HF. Odds: 9.00, 9.20, 4.60.
Also Ran: Normandy Coast, One Nine Hundred, Perfect Force, Faster Gator, Slam Notion, Tiny Lake, Chipotle, Keep It Easy.
RETRIBUTION ($20.00) turned them away in the lane of the $150,000 Chick Lang Stakes at @PimlicoRC. @reredevaux conditions the son of Vekoma (@spendthriftfarm). @iradortiz was in the irons.
The Pick 5 is waiting: https://t.co/MqFrLWHbQ5 pic.twitter.com/MwTBk0Sg3m
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) May 17, 2025
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