3rd-Churchill Downs, $136,640, Alw (C)/Opt. Clm ($175,000), 9-27, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:09.76, sy, 2 1/4 lengths.
BANGO (h, 7, Congrats–Josaka, by Smart Strike) had not visited the winner's circle at his home track since the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes over a year ago. On the hunt for his 12th victory which would give him the all-time Churchill record over Ready's Rocket (More Than Ready), the 7-year-old was last seen finishing off the board over this surface in the Kelly's Landing Stakes June 29.
Facing three others and as the 9-5 second choice, the venerable homebred chased his three rivals initially up the backstretch. Locked in along the rail around the far turn, Bango splashed along looking for a way through. The Greg Foley trainee split horses at the top of the lane, dove to the inside once again and rolled home to capture the Twin Spires mark by 2 1/4 lengths over favorite Angkor (Anchor Down).
“It's a really special day for all of us,” Foley said. “I can't congratulate owners Fred and Debbie Schwartz enough for accomplishing this feat with Bango. He's got the all-time winningest record here at Churchill Downs and that's such a special meaning. He loves it here, as we all know. He really wasn't himself this spring but the past three or four weeks he's been phenomenal. He's back.”
The winner is a half-brother to Eton Ridge (Stephen Got Even), SW-PR, $274,962. Josaka is responsible for a 2-year-old colt by Flatter, a weanling filly by Jack Christopher who was foaled Apr. 10 and she visited Arabian Lion for next season. Bango hails from an extended female family which includes GII Louisiana Derby hero Revolutionary (War Pass). Lifetime Record: MSW/GSP, 38-15-4-4, $1,617,891. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O/B-Tamaroak Stable (KY); T-Gregory D. Foley.
Bango does it!! 12 wins at Churchill Downs! 🏆
He breaks the all-time record of wins in R3 on the card under regular pilot @tyler_gaff for trainer @foley_racing! 🏇
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/MRT5hWqoAS
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 27, 2024
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