Bango Notches Gate-to-Wire Victory in Kelly's Landing

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Bango Notches Gate-to-Wire Victory in Kelly's Landing
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Bango wins the Kelly's Landing Stakes at Ellis Park

It was smooth sailing for multiple stakes winner Bango  who went to the lead early in the $225,000 Kelly's Landing Stakes July 1 at Ellis Park and held on to his winning position to cruise to victory.

Under leading jockey Tyler Gaffalione, the 6-year-old son of Congrats  led gate-to-wire through fractions of :22.29, :44.37, and 1:08.33. The pair finished the 6 1/2-furlong event in 1:15.02 with a half-length to spare over a fast dirt track.


Marsalis  settled for second and Miles Ahead  was third.

Bango ($4.30) increased his earnings to $1,275,811 and improved his record to 13-4-2 from 32 starts. The Tamaroak Partners homebred is trained by Greg Foley.

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"We had Tyler back on him today and he knows the horse so well. I told Tyler to go from the break and see what happens," Foley said. "We were in the one hole and (Marsalis) was on our outside so he had to let him run away from there a little bit. He found himself on the lead and he handled it from there."

Bango was bred in Kentucky out of the Smart Strike mare Josaka, who has also produced grade 1 winner in Puerto Rico, Eton Ridge . The dam's last reported foal is a yearling son of Flatter .

Video: Kelly's Landing S. (BT)



Wadsworth Earns First Stakes Win in American Derby

Wadsworth  returned to the winner's circle July 1 at Ellis Park in the $225,000 American Derby in defeating grade 3 winner Mo Stash  for his first victory in stakes company.

The 3-year-old son of Quality Road   started into the 1 1/16-mile turf contest as the 6-5 favorite and was piloted by Florent Geroux, who had his mount stalking the pace through fractions set by Mo Stash of :24.20, :48.49 and 1:11.71. The winner rallied to take command late in the stretch and crossed the wire in 1:40.96 on a "good" turf course.

"Pretty much how I expected it to be on paper," said jockey Florent Geroux. "He is a nice horse and I think he should win some more like this."

The Godolphin homebred, trained by Brad Cox, paid $4.50 for a $2 win ticket.

Mo Stash held second, finishing two lengths ahead of Desert Duke  in third.

Bred in Kentucky out of the grade 1-winning Medaglia d'Oro   mare Dickinson , Wadsworth improved his record to 3-1-0 from eight starts and increased his earnings to $295,536. The dam also has a yearling full brother to Wadsworth along with a 2023 Gun Runner   filly.

Video: American Derby (BT)