In 149 years of racing at Churchill Downs, no horse had ever received greater than 11 races on the famed Louisville, Ky. oval.
Till now.
Bango took his rightful place in Churchill Downs lore Sept. 27 when he raced to a document twelfth victory underneath the Twin Spires. By capturing the third race, a $136,600 open allowance contest worthy of stakes standing, the son of Congrats turned the winningest horse in Churchill Downs historical past.
The 7-year-old tied Prepared’s Rocket’s document of 11 wins final fall at Churchill with a rating within the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes. He was then third within the Wager On Sunshine Stakes earlier than returning to complete unplaced in his two Churchill begins this yr within the St. Matthews In a single day and Kelly’s Touchdown Stakes. Coach Greg Foley gave the previous warrior a three-month mid-season freshening, and the bay slowly however certainly discovered his method again to his previous type.
“Within the spring he was coaching good and we thought we would get (the document) within the (St. Matthews In a single day) on Derby Thursday,” Foley stated. “He was doing properly however he simply acquired mentally out of the sport there for a bit of bit. We tried just a few little issues to attempt to get him again within the recreation. His works prior to now three-four weeks have been phenomenal. He labored like he hadn’t misplaced a step. If he did not run (properly) at this time we in all probability would have taken him house.”Join BloodHorse Every day
When the gates sprang open, jockey Tyler Gaffalione hustled Bango up the rail earlier than tucking right into a stalking journey behind pacesetters Angkhor and Spankster . Unfazed by the excessive headwinds or kilos of slop, courtesy of Hurricane Helene, Bango cut up horses on the high of the lane and stormed forward of his rivals. He splashed to the wire in a 1:09.76 for the six furlongs, 2 1/4 lengths away from Angkhor.
“I simply wish to congratulate Fred and Debb Schwartz,” Foley stated. The Schwartz’, the breeders of Bango, race the bay underneath the identify Tamaroak Steady identify. They campaigned Bango’s dam, the Good Strike mare Josaka, with Foley as properly.
“I am simply so completely satisfied for them to have this horse. They have been so good to me for therefore a few years. It is a big day.”
Friday’s race was the fifteenth profession tally for Bango in his 38 journeys to the publish. The Kentucky-bred, a ten-time stakes winner, has banked $1,617,891.
Bango may try to boost the already excessive bar a notch larger when he pursues his thirteenth win, and eighth Churchill stakes win, within the Nov. 2 $300,000 Wager On Sunshine Stakes.
“He is all the time been a pleasant, sound horse,” Foley stated. “The best way he ran at this time I am positive we’ll be within the (Wager On Sunshine Stakes). He is received it twice so perhaps he can win it 3 times. That is what we’ll shoot for.”
