Pangburn, a 4-year-old Congrats filly, came four wide entering the stretch to win the $75,000 Maryland Racing Media S. by a half-length on a cold Saturday afternoon at Laurel Park.

Pangburn is the fourth stakes winner of 2016 for top-10 sire Congrats, whose undefeated 3-year-old filly Polar River turned in another dominating performance in Thursday’s $150,000 UAE 1,000 Guineas.

This was the first stakes win for the well-bred Pangburn, who is a half-sister to a two-time stakes winner and out of It’s True Love, also a stakes winner who placed in the 2007 running of the Maryland Racing Media.

Making her 2016 debut, Pangburn found her best stride in the final quarter-mile, sweeping around foes coming into the stretch and collaring Joint Return in the last eighth-mile. Pangburn covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:47.90.

“I stayed behind the speed just like the assistant trainer told me, and when we got to the top of the stretch she started to run,” said winning rider Jevian Toledo. “I didn’t have any problems in the race.”

With three graded stakes placings on her resume, Pangburn is now 4-2-1 in 13 starts, with a bankroll of $297,781. The Kentucky bred filly is owned by Shortleaf Stable, who purchased her for $130,000 at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Summer Yearling sale.

Courtesy of WinStar Farm