Tami Bobo and Lugamo Racing Stable's Congruent, a $350,000 son of Tapit, is headed to the Breeders' Cup following his decisive victory in the Laurel Futurity Oct. 1 at Laurel Park.
Trainer Antonio Sano said Friday from Gulfstream Park that a decision is coming next week as to which race the connections will target, either the $2 million Juvenile (G1) or $1 million Juvenile Turf (G1), both Nov. 4 at Keeneland.
The Juvenile is contested at 1 1/16 miles on the main track, while the Juvenile Turf travels one mile on the grass. The Laurel Futurity, Congruent's first stakes win, was originally scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the turf until remnants of Hurricane Ian caused it to be moved to a sloppy and sealed main track and run at one mile.
“The race was supposed to be on the grass but after it rained and the race came off, we decided to run. He won two races on the dirt very good,” Sano said. “The horse ran well and came back well.
“The next race is the Breeders' Cup, but I don't know whether it will be on the dirt or the turf,” he added. “I have a meeting with the owners Monday night where we'll make a decision which race to run.”
In the Laurel Futurity, jockey Feargal Lynch tucked Congruent in third along the rail, momentarily dropping back to fifth while awaiting room midway around the far turn. Lynch gave Congruent his cue straightening for home, splitting pacesetter Splendor Beauty to his inside and Free Soul, then engaged in mid-stretch with Otago who had a clear run on the outside before steadily edging clear to win by 2 ½ lengths in 1:40.45.
“We wanted to try him on the turf,” Sano said. “We were 100 percent confident going into the race either way. The jockey gave him a perfect trip.”
Sano purchased Congruent for Bobo and Luis Gavignano of Lugamo at OBS' March sale of 2-year-olds in training after the horse fetched $200,000 as a yearling last July. His dam, Part the Seas, won the 2013 Bessarabian (G3) on Woodbine's all-weather surface, while grandsire Stormy Atlantic was a two-time stakes winner on dirt. Tapit was a Grade 1 winner that has become one of the most influential sires of his generation.
“He's a very, very nice horse,” Sano said. “I liked the pedigree. It's a very good pedigree and his conformation is very, very good. We have been very happy with him.”
All four of Congruent's races have come on dirt. He ran fifth in debut July 16 before graduating in a seven-furlong maiden special weight Aug. 13, both at Gulfstream. He stretched out to a mile in a Sept. 10 optional claiming allowance at Delaware Park, finishing third, prior to the Laurel Futurity.
The Futurity, contested as a Grade 1 from 1973-88 and having maintained its graded status through 2004, has a rich history dating back to 1921 inaugural winner Morvich, who would go on to win the 1922 Kentucky Derby. The Futurity has also been won by Triple Crown champions Affirmed, Citation and Secretariat along with Barbaro, In Reality, Honest Pleasure, Quadrangle, Riva Ridge, Spectacular Bid and Tapit.
The post Laurel Futurity Winner Congruent Headed To Breeders’ Cup; Turf Vs. Dirt Yet To Be Decided appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
