Bango's Kelly Landing One of Foley's Three June 25 Wins

Trainer Greg Foley was the star of the show on the penultimate day of the Churchill Downs spring meet June 25. He won three races, topped by a comeback allowance victory from promising 4-year-old Major Fed  and $107,025 Kelly's Landing Overnight Stakes with Bango . Foley also won a maiden claiming race to begin the Friday card with Brew Crew .

"It's just a great day," the trainer told Churchill Downs television host Joe Kristufek in a post-race interview. "It makes you like getting up in the morning. It keeps you getting up every day."

Foley had to await the result of a photo finish to see if Tamaroak Partners' Bango had won the Kelly's Landing, but the crack sprinter came out on top by the thinnest of noses over Mucho. Tyler Gaffalione, the meet's leading rider, was aboard.

"There was a little bit of speed to our inside so I just let him get settled down the backside," Gaffalione said. "We got into a great position and I wanted to make sure I got the jump on the closers. He held on well and ran a big race."

Though Bango had previously won the Aristides Stakes at Churchill Downs May 29 and brought a 5-for-9 Churchill Downs record into the Kelly's Landing, he was somewhat dismissed in the wagering. He paid $15, a rewarding price caused by the presence of several high-achieving entrants, including 2020 Toyota Blue Grass (G2) winner Art Collector. 

The latter, favored in his first start since his eighth-place finish in the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) last fall, never challenged in finishing sixth after breaking outward at the start.

Third-place Strike Power  and fourth-place Aloha West  followed Bango and Mucho across the wire.

The winner, bred in Kentucky by his owners, raced seven furlongs on a fast track in 1:21.25. He is a son of Congrats   out of the Smart Strike  mare Josaka , a producer of four winners and two stakes winners. The dam foaled a full brother to Bango this year.

Friday's victory was worth $65,640 and boosted Bango's bankroll to $459,197 with a record of 7-1-1 from 18 starts. All but one of his victories have come at Churchill Downs.

Also running quickly was Lloyd Madison Farms IV's Major Fed, who rallied from last at the top of the stretch to win a first-level allowance over 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.96. The Florent Geroux-ridden Major Fed paid $3.60 to win in his 4-year-old debut. He had been away since September.

The Ghostzapper   colt was twice graded placed last year as a 3-year-old and finished 10th in last September's COVID-19-delayed Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). This year Foley had his second Derby starter when O Besos  ran fifth for owners Bernard Racing, Tagg Team Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Terry Stephens.

Major Fed's dramatic return left Foley relieved.

"I felt a lot easier after the race," he said. "I was kind of sweating that one out a bit—when you have a nice horse like that, been off a layoff like that, and then a tough trip, but he ran what he had to. He's a good horse. We're going to have a really good time with him this year."

With June 26 the closing day of the spring meet at Churchill Downs, there is a mandatory payout in the Derby City 6, covering Races 7-12. There is a $166,087 carryover in the 20-cent wager.