Track Record Holder Bango Eyes 13th Win Beneath Twin Spires in Saturday's Bet On Sunshine

Oct 27, 2024

Tamaroak Partners’ Bango, the all-time leading horse with 12 career wins at Churchill Downs, will seek victory No. 13 in next Saturday’s 16th running of the $300,000 Bet On Sunshine Stakes (Listed).

The Bet On Sunshine, a six-furlong sprint, is carded as Race 10 on an 11-race program,with a post time of 6:45 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 1 p.m.

Trained by Greg Foley, the tough-as-nails veteran Bango claimed his place in Churchill Downs history during the September Meet by surpassing Ready’s Rocket for most wins at the iconic track. The 7-year-old has made three prior starts in the Bet On Sunshine, winning in 2022, finishing fourth in 2021 and third last year. With regular rider Tyler Gaffalione competing at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in Southern California, Corey Lanerie, who rode Bango twice as a 2-year-old, will be in the irons from post No. 3.

Joining Foley’s lineup in the Bet On Sunshine is recent allowance winner Champlin, owned by Murray and Sherilynn House. The four-time winning sprinter will break from post 8 under Mitchell Murrill.

Another top contender in the Bet On Sunshine is Happy Is a Choice who enters the race off a thrilling victory in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes six weeks ago. The son of Runhappy, owned by Hooties Racing, WSS Racing and 4G Racing and trained by John Ortiz, boasts five victories in 11 starts and is 2-for-3 lifetime at Churchill Downs. The versatile sprinter will break from post 4 with jockey Ramon Vazquez.

Here is the field for the Bet On Sunshine Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Big Hat Willie (Fernando De La Cruz, David Jacobson)
Gold Luck (Edgar Morales, Genaro Garcia)
Bango (Lanerie, Foley)
Happy Is a Choice (Vazquez, Ortiz)
Gulfport (Erik Asmussen, Steve Asmussen)
Tejano Twist (Chris Landeros, Chris Hartman)
Happy American (Jareth Loveberry, Neil Pessin)
Champlin (Murrill, Foley)
Angkor (Gerardo Corrales, Phil Bauer)
Fans at Churchill Downs on Saturday can enjoy live action as well as a simulcast of the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar. All Breeders’ Cup races will be broadcast on televisions throughout the track as well as on the Big Board.

For more information about the Churchill Downs Fall Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

 

CHURCHILL-BASED BREEDERS’ CUP CONTENDERS LOG FINAL WORKS – Several Breeders’ Cup contenders are set to ship out early Monday morning to Del Mar following their final works Saturday at Churchill Downs. Among those completing their final preparations were Federal Judge (four furlongs, :48.40); Highland Falls (five furlongs, 1:00.20); Rattle N Roll (five furlongs, :59.60); Saudi Crown (five furlongs, 1:00) and Tumbarumba (four furlongs, :49.20).

Trainer Brad Cox worked 15 horses Saturday morning with Siena Farm and WinStar Farm’s Federal Judge and FMQ Racing’s Saudi Crown leading off his group at 5:30 a.m. (all times Eastern) working by themselves.

Dirt Mile (GI) contender Saudi Crown, with jockey Florent Geroux aboard, logged his breeze beginning from the 4 ½-furlong pole and finishing just past the wire. The duo galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.60.

“Saudi Crown had a great work this morning,” Geroux said. “He’s been off a little bit, so we wanted to make sure he got a lot out of his training. He showed that today and last week. He worked in company last week, which went well, and I thought today was even better – a good sign going into a race.”

A few minutes later, Federal Judge, considered a top contender for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI), worked under exercise rider Joel Osorio. The duo began their work from the three-eighths pole, while finishing their move at the seven-eighths pole.

At 7:15 a.m., Cox’s final Breeders’ Cup contender of the morning, Godolphin’s Highland Falls, worked with jockey Luis Saez on board, breezing outside stablemate Liberal Arts. The duo started the move from the 4 ½-furlong pole before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.40. Highland Falls is pre-entered in the Classic (GI).

“He worked well this morning and is coming into the race in great form,” Saez said. “I think he’s improving even more at the mile-and-a-quarter distance. He ran huge last time in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at that distance.”

The local Breeders’ Cup contingent will depart Churchill Downs at 4 a.m. Monday, vanning to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport before arriving at Del Mar early in the afternoon. Also scheduled for the flight are Churchill-based contenders Jonathan’s Way (Juvenile) and Quickick (Juvenile Fillies), along with Turfway Park-based contenders Next (Classic) and Minaret Station (Juvenile Turf).

 

DOWN THE STRETCH – Live racing resumes at Churchill Downs on Sunday for the start of the 26-day Fall Meet. First post is 1 p.m. and the card features the $200,000 Street Sense (Grade III) and $200,000 Rags to Riches (Listed) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks, respectively. … Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager with up to 40 betting interests, including the popular “All Others” option, will open Wednesday at noon and close Friday at 6 p.m. in advance of the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) at Del Mar. The field for the three-day pool, which features $2 Win and Exacta wagering, will be released Monday. … Sunday’s opener comes four days before Halloween and Churchill Downs will present the return of its uber-popular Family Adventure Day: Trick-or-Treat at the Track. Kids 12 and under are encouraged to wear costumes and visit 10 “Trick-or-Treat Boo Stations” scattered throughout the racetrack as Churchill Downs hands out candy between 12:30-4 p.m. There will be more than 15 activities for children to enjoy including a pumpkin patch, face painting (1-4:30 p.m.), arts and crafts stations and bounce houses. Tickets are available at www.churchilldowns.com. … Churchill Downs will honor and celebrate area First Responders. Free general admission is offered to First Responders who present their ID or they can purchase discounted tickets to Millionaires Row or Sky Terrace (subject to availability) for a special lunch by calling (502) 636-4450. … For more information about the Churchill Downs Fall Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.