Bango continues pursuit of outright Churchill Downs win record

Bango has been tied with Ready’s Rocket for the all-time wins record at Churchill Downs for more than a year, with 11 victories over the course. On Friday, the veteran sprinter will attempt to make history and claim the record outright against a compact field of four rivals in a conditioned allowance race.

Trained by Greg Foley for Tamaroak Partners, Bango has not returned to the winner’s circle since last year’s victory in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes at Churchill Downs. Friday’s race will be his third start of his 7-year-old season, following disappointing finishes in the St. Matthews Stakes and Kelly’s Landing Stakes during the spring meet.

“He’s shown us in the morning that he’s still training like he was when he was at the top of his game,” Foley said. “He had a great work on Saturday – a half-mile in 46 flat, out five furlongs in 58 and 3. He was rolling right along. We’re hoping the old guy can right the ship and get the record.”

A son of Congrats, Bango has amassed a 37: 14-4-4 record. At Churchill Downs alone he has won 11 times and banked more than $1.2 million, with another $500,000 coming from other tracks.

Friday’s allowance race is scheduled as race 3 at 1:43 p.m. EDT. First post is 12:45 p.m. The field includes recent Forego Stakes (G1) third-place finisher Angkor, who is the 8-5 morning-line favorite. Bango, installed as the 2-1 second choice, will be ridden by September meet leading rider Tyler Gaffalione.