Lexitonian became Speightstown’s fifth stakes winner of 2019 on Preakness Day at Pimlico when the 3-year-old colt won the $200,000 Chick Lang S. (G3) by a head over Gladiator King.
Speightstown, a top-10 sire of 2019, now has progeny earnings of over $4 million this year.
Lexitonian broke in front from his inside post, but Jose Ortiz took his mount a couple lengths off the pace to settle in behind the leaders. Tracking through a half-mile in :44.82, he came off the fence in mid-stretch, then caught Gladiator King in the final strides to hit the wire first in 1:09.74 for the six furlongs on the fast main track.
“He broke on top. I could have gone to the lead if I’d wanted to, but I figured there was going to be a lot of speed in the first half.,” said Ortiz. “So [trainer] Jack [Sisterson] told me if I could relax him and sit him back ‘I would be the man.’ And that’s what I tried to do. He relaxed really well, because the pace was really fast. When I asked him to go, he was there for me the whole time.
Lexitonian is owned by his breeder Calumet Farm. The first foal out of Riviera Romper, Lexitonian comes from the same family as Grade 1 winner Swap Fliparoo. The win boosted his earnings to $172,410 in five starts.
