BALTIMORE – Lael Stables’ Chalon, unraced since her narrow loss in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) last November, returned to action in spectacular fashion Friday with a record-setting victory in the $100,000 Fidelity First & Blackwell Real Estate Skipat Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.

The 26th running of the Skipat for fillies and mares was the first of seven stakes, four graded, worth $1.15 million in purses on a spectacular 14-race Black-Eyed Susan Day program that served as a fitting prelude to Saturday’s 144th Preakness Stakes (G1).

Ridden by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano for trainer Arnaud Delacour, teaming up for their second consecutive win of the day, Chalon ($3.20) ran six furlongs in 1:09.46 over a fast main track, breaking the stakes record of 1:09.76 set by Akronism in 2008. Northern Wolf established the track record of 1:09 Aug. 18, 1990.

Everlasting Secret, sent off at 60-1, outran Chalon for the lead through a quarter-mile in 22.67 seconds with Chalon settled in third. The 3-5 favorite ranged up to challenge on the far turn, took over the lead at the top of the stretch and sprinted clear by two lengths for her fourth career stakes victory.

Everlasting Secret held on for second, 1 ½ lengths ahead of 30-1 long shot Hailey’s Flip, who emerged from a three-way photo finish a nose in front of Anna’s Bandit for third with Estilo Femenino fifth.

Castellano joined his brother, jockey-turned-trainer Abel Castellano Jr., as a Skipat winner. Castellano Jr. captured the race in 2012 with Bold Affair.

$100,000 Fidelity First & Blackwell Real Estate Skipat Quotes

Arnaud Delacour (Winning trainer, Chalon): “Everything went well. She broke a touch slow. She's usually a little more aggressive to break and get a position. It looked like Javier really had to hustle a little bit to get her into position. Once she got to a spot she was relaxed, and she looked like herself. She finished very well and looked like she had something left.”

Javier Castellano (Winning jockey, Chalon): “I thought it was best to be on the lead, but she didn’t break that well. She’s versatile that way – she can either be on the lead or come from behind.  Last year in the [Breeders’ Cup] she just got beat at the wire against the best horses in the country.”