Bango scores 10th Churchill win in St. Matthews, needs one more to tie record

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Plenty of history will be written in the coming days at Churchill Downs, so it's fitting that local favorite Bango continued his march into the history books on Thursday.

Bango cruised to victory for the 10th time beneath the twin spires while taking the $175,000 St. Matthews Overnight Stakes for older sprinters by five lengths.

According to Churchill Downs records, Ready's Rocket holds the modern-day record as the winningest horse at this racetrack, with 11 wins, all at the claiming or starter-allowance level. In a career spanning from 2005 to 2012, the gelding won 20 of 74 lifetime starts.

Bango ($6.56), a 6-year-old homebred for Tamaroak Stable, has now won 12 of 30 lifetime starts, and although he is also a stakes winner at Ellis Park and Turfway Park in Kentucky, the majority of his success has come at Churchill Downs.

Now a millionaire with his St. Matthews victory, Bango is the winner of the 2021 and 2022 editions of the Aristides Stakes here, the 2021 Kelly's Landing, and the 2022 Bet On Sunshine, along with a maiden special weight in 2019 and four allowance/optional-claiming races.

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"He's a homebred - I raced his momma," said Foley, a Churchill Downs-based native of nearby Oldham County. "That makes it even that much better. Best owners in the world - they've been longtime owners, loyal, and great to me for a long time. That's what makes it even that much better, to have a nice little horse like this [for them]."

Following his win in last November's Bet On Sunshine, Bango wintered at Fair Grounds, finishing second in both the Richard R. Scherer Memorial in December and the Duncan F. Kenner Stakes in January. He was freshened toward the spring racing season in Kentucky, and appeared sharp in the paddock, with Tyler Gafflione grinning at his mount's prancing as he took a leg up.

Sent away as the favorite, Bango broke alertly and sat on the outside of Pirate Rick through a sharp opening half of 21.56 seconds. He pounced on that foe around the far turn, and took a 1 1/2-length lead to the quarter pole through a half in 44.88. Gaffalione then set him down in earnest and Bango powered away to his final margin.

The time was 1:08.75 for six furlongs on the fast main track.

Miles Ahead, who had been shuffled back to sixth at the quarter pole, came on well to be second, edging the chasing Surveillance by three-quarters of a length. They were followed, in order, by Bagboss, Heart Rhythm, Collaborate, and Pirate Rick.

Foley said Bango would target the $225,000 Aristides, set for June 3, in pursuit of a third consecutive win in that race and a record-tying 11th Churchill victory.

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