Bango ties Churchill career-win record with Thoroughbred Society Stakes victory
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Bango gutted out a record-tying 11th career victory at Churchill Downs, holding off Gulfstream Way by a head in a long drive to win the $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes on Saturday beneath the twin spires.
According to Churchill Downs records, Bango matched Ready's Rocket for the modern-day record as the winningest horse at this racetrack; the latter had with 11 wins, all at the claiming or starter-allowance level. In a career spanning 2005 to 2012, that gelding won 20 of 74 lifetime starts.
Millionaire Bango ($4.32), a 6-year-old homebred for Tamaroak Stable and trained by Greg Foley, has now won 14 of 33 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.
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. He came into the Louisville Thoroughbred Society off a win in this year's Kelly's Landing, contested in July at Ellis Park after racing shifted from Churchill Downs during a troubled spring meet.
"I'm so proud of this horse," said Foley, a Churchill Downs-based native of nearby Oldham County. "We love him. Gonna be a sad day when he [eventually] leaves the barn, but he's as happy and sound as he's ever been. We're hoping we get to run him another year. ... He's just kind of a dream horse for us."
Foley said Bango will likely attempt to break the record outright during the November meeting at Churchill Downs, but a path toward that is yet to be determined.
Gulfstream Way caught a flyer out of the gate for a brief early lead in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society before Strobe and Bango, between horses, joined him. Ricardo Santana Jr. wisely backed Gulfstream Way off to wait for a later time to make a bid. Strobe, with Florent Geroux sitting relaxed, led Bango and Tyler Gaffalione by a long neck through a torrid opening quarter of 21.55 seconds on the fast main track.
Bango reeled in Strobe, who began to beat a steady retreat, and took a short lead at the top of the stretch through a half-mile in 44.75 seconds, but was immediately confronted by Gulfstream Way, who had angled back outside for a serious bid. Those two went at it down the stretch in a long drive, with Bango holding off Gulfstream Way by a diminishing head at the wire.
The final time for the six furlongs was 1:09.02.
After the top two, it was 3 3/4 lengths back to a rallying Necker Island. He was followed, in order, by Awesome Aaron, Baytown Bear, and the fading Strobe.
Open Mind
In the sister race, the $300,000 Open Mind Stakes for female sprinters, Yuugiri ($8.74) overcame a stumble at the start to win by three lengths going away
Yuugiri, under Flavien Prat, stumbled at the start but quickly recovered to secure good position saving ground in a tight pack. Churchill Downs-loving Fire On Time, who has never missed the board at this track, was away well to lead by a length through an opening quarter of 22.09. She began to edge away through the half in 45.20, and turned for home with an opening advantage. But Prat angled Yuugiri four-wide for a clear drive, and the filly was full of run. She powered past Fire On Time and opened up late.
The final time was 1:09.43 for the six furlongs.
After Fire On Time in second, it was 5 3/4 lengths back to favored multiple graded stakes winner Wicked Halo, who was never a serious threat, in third. More Than Vows and Sharp Hero completed the order of finish.
Yuugiri, who is trained by Rodolphe Brisset, won the Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn last year, but this year has performed strongly at shorter distances, winning the Carousel at Oaklawn, the Saylorville at Prairie Meadows, and now the Open Mind. She pushed her career earnings closer to millionaire status, at $979,010 after Saturday.
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