Bango tries for 3rd Aristides with Sibelius, Gunite in his way

Bango, a ten-time winner at Churchill Downs, will attempt to tie the all-time win mark at Churchill Downs in Saturday’s 35th running of the $225,000 Aristides while facing off against two of the top sprinters in North America – Sibelius and Gunite.

The Aristides Stakes, which will go as the sixth race of 11, has a post time of 3:18 p.m. EDT. The Aristides is one of six stakes events on the program. It is scheduled run one month in advance of the $225,000 Kelly’s Landing on the Stephen Foster day card July 1.

Bango, trained by Greg Foley and owned by Tamaroak Partners, has won the last two editions of the Aristides. The speedy homebred son of Congrats enters the Aristides following a five-length score in the St. Matthews Stakes on Thurby. If Bango prevails in the Aristides, he’d tie Ready’s Rocket for the all-time win leader at Churchill Downs. Hall of Famer John Velazquez will have the call from post No. 4.

Sibelius is slated to make his return to North American racing following his victory in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) on March 25. Trained by Jeremiah O’Dwyer and owned by Jun Park and Delia Nash, Sibelius defeated fellow Aristides rival Gunite in the Dubai Golden Shaheen by a half-length. The 5-year-old gelded son of Not This Time has won seven races in his 19-race campaign. In last year’s Bet On Sunshine Stakes at Churchill Downs, Sibelius was defeated three-quarters of a length to Bango. Junior Alvarado will have the mount from the rail.

Grade 2 winner Gunite has been regularly preparing for the Aristides at Churchill Downs. The well-traveled son of Gun Runner began his 4-year-old stand with a victory in the King Cotton Stakes at Oaklawn prior to his runner-up effort in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3) in Saudi Arabia and his narrow third-place effort in the Dubai Golden Shaheen. Gunite, who is trained by Steve Asmussen and owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, will be piloted by Tyler Gaffalione from post No. 3.