Bango Vying to Tie Churchill Downs Win Record

If records are meant to be broken, they need to be tied first. That is the mission Sept. 16 for Bango, who seeks to win his 11th race under Churchill Downs' Twin Spires, as he runs in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes. With a win, Bango would tie Ready's Rocket who last won at the Louisville track in his 2012 career finale. "Pretty special. When you think about all great horses that have run over here on this racetrack at Churchill Downs through the years, to win that many races and especially the type of races he's winning—they're all stakes races and allowance races," trainer Greg Foley said. "Pretty, pretty special feat." Tamaroak Partners' Bango loves his home track, going 10-2-2 from 18 main-track starts. He also runs well elsewhere, having won the July 1 Kelly's Landing Stakes at Ellis Park last out. Should Bango tie the record and eventually take sole possession of it, Foley said the plan would not involve his trainee retiring. "As long as he stays healthy and sound as he is right now, knock on wood. This horse acts like he's as good as he's ever been," Foley said. "He's 6-years-old, but there's no reason, you know. We'd love to run him again next year and plan to." The homebred son of Congrats has become somewhat of a cult hero. So it is music to the ears of many that there are no plans for him to stop running any time soon. The six-furlong race featuring a $300,000 purse, including $50,000 from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, will see six 3-year-olds and up break from the starting gate. LOCUST GROVE STAKES The biggest purse on Saturday's card at Churchill Downs is offered in the $400,000 Locust Grove Stakes (G3). The 1 1/16-mile race includes $100,000 in KTDF purse money and is highlighted by a field with several graded stakes winners. Among those are grade 1 winners Pauline's Pearl, Search Results and A Mo Reay. Those three crossed paths in the May 5 LaTroienne Stakes (G1) with Search Results taking third, A Mo Reay fourth, and Pauline's Pearl sixth. Factoid: Since the race moved off the turf in 2013, no trainer has won the Locust Grove twice. Brad Cox (A Mo Reay) and Ignacio Correas IV (Le Da Vida (CHI)) look to end that trend. OPEN MIND STAKES Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) third Wicked Halo leads the field in the Open Mind Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for fillies 3 and up. The millionaire daughter of Gun Runner took home the Twin Bridges Stakes last time out following a pair of seconds in the Bed O'Roses Stakes (G2) and Derby City Distaff (G1).