The consistent gelding Tarage staged a strong rally and scored a head victory Sunday over long shot King Congo in the featured Budweiser Purse.

With Juan Gutierrez riding, Tarage ran one mile in 1 minute, 37 2/5 seconds on a fast track and paid $8.20, $5.40 and $4.40. Steve Bullock is the trainer for owner Dr. Rodney Orr.

King Congo, ridden by Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo, rallied in tandem with the winner and finished a close second. Off at 13-1, King Congo paid $12 and $9.20.2009.

Random Memo, Gallyn Mitchell riding, dueled for the lead throughout and held on tenaciously for third place. Random Memo paid $4.40.

A 5-year-old by Doneraile Court bred in Ontario, Canada, Tarage has had a steady campaign with three wins and has picked up checks in all 11 starts this season. Overall, the gelding has compiled a 4-4-4 record from 24 starts with earnings of $43,107.

Track notes:

* Trainer Vince Gibson recorded his second straight training double including an upset by Junior Cruiser ($16.60) in the nightcap. The 3-year-old gelding has won gate-to-wire this year at odds of 18-1, 15-1 and 7-1…Seth Martinez rode three winners, his second triple of the week and seventh of the season, and is fourth in the standings with 73 wins.

* Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo continued her hot riding as well, scoring her sixth two-win day of the season and is in seventh place with 37 wins…Juan Gutierrez also rode two winners and needs four wins in the final four days for his first 100-win season.

* Ricky Frazier finished Week 23 with a 150-107 lead over Gallyn Mitchell and needs eight wins closing week to better his own mark of 157 wins set in 2007…Tim McCanna notched a victory with Snake Attack ($2.80) in the fourth race and moved one up on Doris Harwood, 58-57, in the race for leading trainer.

* Howard Belvoir is third with 51 wins and Vann Belvoir fourth with 48 wins.

* Racing resumes Thursday with first post at 6 p.m.

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