Seasoned warriors Pauline's Pearl, Bango win close decisions
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The Grade 2, $400,000 Fleur de Lis stakes scratched from its original field of eight fillies and mares down to three runners, but wasn’t devoid of drama as Pauline’s Pearl crossed the line three-quarters of a length in front in a blanket finish.
Bellamore was second, a neck ahead of A Mo Reay, but was disqualified to third for interference.
Pauline’s Pearl ($6.52), a Stonestreet homebred trained by Steve Asmussen, won the Grade 1 La Troienne in 2022 at Churchill Downs, defeating Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil. Pauline’s Pearl went on to finish fourth in the Shawnee, then third to Shedaresthedevil in last summer’s Fleur de Lis.
Pauline’s Pearl got an extended break and returned well to win the Grade 3 Houston Ladies Classic. But the 5-year-old daughter of Tapit then finished seventh in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile in California and sixth in her La Troienne defense.
“This horse is a credit to [owner Barbara Banke] for keeping her in training and letting her and Clairiere continue to develop,” Asmussen assistant Scott Blasi said, referencing divisional leader Clairiere, also a Stonestreet homebred.
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Earlier on the card, the popular Bango earned the eighth stakes victory of his career by fending off a host of challengers in the $225,000 Kelly’s Landing Stakes for older sprinters.
Bango ($4.30) and Tyler Gaffalione were hounded throughout by Marsalis and turned back a sustained bid from that foe on the outside through the stretch, while also holding off Miles Ahead, who was rallying along the rail.
At the wire, it was Bango by a half-length over Marsalis, with Miles Ahead another neck back in third. Tejano Twist was fourth, only a head head behind Mile Ahead.
Bango, who is trained by Greg Foley, finished the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.02.
“The credit goes to Greg and his entire team for having this horse ready to go all the time,” Gaffalione said. “We broke from the inside but he broke on top today. I just let him settle since he broke on top and let him do his thing.
“Up the backside he had his ears up like he was waiting for horses. He hasn’t really been in that position before. In the stretch when the field started closing ground he kept digging in and wasn’t going to let anyone by.”
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