Congrats’ 4-year-old colt Bango took a thrilling rendition of the $110,000 Kelly’s Landing S. on June 25 at Churchill Downs, holding off Mucho to score his second win of the spring meet.
Bango won the Aristides S. on May 29 and is now 7-1-1 in 18 starts for owner/breeder Tamaroak Partners and trainer Greg Foley.
Facing a field of nine that included Blue Grass S. (G2) winner Art Collector and Swale S. (G3) winner Strike Power, Bango got away cleanly and pressed the pace while three-wide for the backstretch run. He closed the gap on the turn and took over from Strike Power coming into the stretch. After inching clear, Bango and jockey Tyler Gaffalione had to fight off the late surge of Mucho to win by a nose in 1:21.25 for the seven furlongs on the fast main track.
“This is why we get up early in the morning and do our job,” Foley said. “It makes it all worth it when horses like this run as well as they do. Bango loves Churchill Downs. He’s a neat little horse and Tyler gave him a great ride.”
The victory upped the dark bay colt’s earnings to $459,197. He is one of Congrats’s 82 winners this year, which ranks in the top 10 on the 2021 General Sire list.
