Bango pointing to Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes
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Bango, who in his next outing at Churchill Downs will attempt to tie the mark as the winningest horse in the track’s recorded history, will resume that chase in the $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes on Sept. 16 when the Louisville track opens a short meet that month.
Trainer Greg Foley provided the update on his stable star as he prepares to send out another popular runner, O Besos, in Saturday’s $125,000 Jeff Hall Memorial at Ellis Park, looking to keep his barn’s strong stakes streak going. Foley has saddled three stakes winners already this month at Ellis, with Sitched winning the Grade 2, $400,000 Wise Dan, Bango winning the $225,000 Kelly’s Landing on July 1, and Chiseler winning the $100,000 Dade Park Dash on July 8.
Bango has not missed the board in four starts this year, finishing second in the Duncan F. Kenner at Fair Grounds in January; winning the St. Matthews Overnight at Churchill Downs in May; running second to the talented Gunite in the Aristides Stakes under the twin spires in June; and, most recently, taking the Kelly’s Landing. That was his eighth career stakes win.
“He came out of the Kelly’s Landing in great shape – he looks amazing,” Foley said. “The plan, pretty much, is just to sit and wait for the middle of September, keep him in a rhythm. I just kind of backed off of him. He’s training every day, just light.”
Bango would be chasing his 11th victory at Churchill Downs in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society. According to Churchill statistics, Ready’s Rocket holds the modern-day record as the winningest horse at the track, with 11 wins, all at the claiming or starter-allowance level, from 2005-12.
Stitched has not breezed since giving Foley the stakes double on the July 1 card, with his neck victory in the Wise Dan triggering a $94.50 payout for the upset. Foley said Stitched also is in light training and could target one of the seven-figure stakes in September at Kentucky Downs, with a potential prep race in August at Ellis Park.
“Nothing’s set in stone or anything yet,” he said.
Meanwhile, Foley will saddle O Besos in the Jeff Hall Memorial on Saturday, his first start since finishing a creditable, closing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last November. O Besos owns three graded stakes placings, but has not yet broken through with a stakes win.
“He’s had some tough luck with some issues here and there,” Foley said. “But I think he’s ready to go. He’s a nice horse. We’re hoping to get him going now and string some races together.”
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