Vekoma colt holds off challengers to win Chick Lang in stakes debut

Retribution surged to the front in upper stretch on his way to a 1 ¾-length win in the May 17 Chick Lang S. at Pimlico in the stakes debut for the 3-year-old son of Vekoma.

Retribution is the seventh stakes winner of the year for Vekoma, which leads all Second-Crop sires. Vekoma’s progeny earnings thus far in 2025 are over $5.1 million, nearly $3 million ahead of all other Second-Crop sires.

Retribution was making just his third lifetime start in Saturday’s six-furlong dash. Breaking from the outside in the field of 11, he hustled into fourth as the field went down the backstretch. After going three-wide around the turn, he came into the stretch four abreast for the lead. With a determined run down the lane, he outran Touchy and Ancient World to hit the wire in 1:11.27 on a fast track.

“He broke so good and when he broke that well, it made everything a lot easier,” said winning rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. of the trip. “I had the 11 post, and it looked like there was a lot of speed on paper. So, I was afraid to take ahold of him. He broke sharp. Then in the middle of the turn he started making his own run and I said, ‘Beautiful.’ Then I had a horse next to me and he fights, and I said, ‘All right, let’s do it.’ And he showed what he can do.”

Owned by Belladonna Racing LLC, Twin Brook Stables, Woodford Racing LLC, B.C.W.T. Ltd, Savvy Stables, GRC Racing LLC and Taylor Creek, Retribution has won two of three starts and earned $134,400. He was bred in Kentucky by Andrea McNeely Harden.