Breaking from post two, Sutherland kept Lightening Larry a neck back of co-favorite Cogburn in the early going, as the leader set torrid early fractions: :21.87 for the first quarter and then :44.14 for the half-mile.

“He’s the type of horse that likes to be in it and he gets more aggressive,” Sutherland said. “He’s a bit of a pit bull that way, so we wanted him close.”

Around the far turn, Lightening Larry kept pace with Cogburn, pulling even with him as they entered the stretch. The two dueled, but Cogburn seemed to hang, unable to shake Sutherland and Lightening Larry. Inside the first furlong, the son of Uncaptured dug in and passed Cogburn, hitting the wire three-quarters of a length in front. Cogburn held on for second, with Chasing Time coming on late for third.

The final time for the six furlongs over the fast track was 1:09.86. Lightening Larry was three parts of a length ahead of Cogburn at the wire, while Chasing Time rallied to be third, another two lengths farther back.

The win was Lightening Larry’s fourth from nine career starts. He has earned $305,610.

Bred by Michelle Redding, Lightening Larry is out of the Malibu Moon mare Sun and Moon. He is trained by Jorge Delgado and owned by Lea Farms LLC. The G3 Chick Lang is his third start and second win of 2022, with one previous black-type stakes victory in the Limehouse Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Lightening Larry paid $26.00, $8.60, and $5.20 Cogburn paid $4.00 and $3.20. Chasing Time paid $4.60. The $1 exacta paid $51.70.

Lightening Larry won the Grade 3 Chick Lang Stakes. Photo by Allison Janezic.