Search Results, Bango, Yuugiri Capture Churchill Stakes
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Photo: Coady Photography
Search Results wins the Locust Grove Stakes at Churchill Downs
Klaravich Stables' grade 1-winning Search Results , winless in her three starts of 2023, picked up a confidence-boosting victory in the Locust Grove Stakes (G3) Sept. 16 at Churchill Downs.
The Locust Grove was one of five stakes Saturday at the Louisville track. In two other stakes for older horses, Bango won the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes and Yuugiri captured the Open Mind Stakes.
Jockey Tyler Gaffalione took no chances on favored Search Results in the $397,000 Locust Grove, sending her immediately to the lead while setting a moderate pace in the 1 1/16-mile race. She scored by 3 1/4 lengths, clocked on a fast track in 1:42.40—the quickest in 10 runnings of the Locust Grove over the surface and distance.
"I just sort of inherited the lead and she settled really well. In the stretch when I asked her to quicken, I had a lot of horse beneath me," Gaffalione said.
Chad Brown trains Search Results, the 2021 Acorn Stakes (G1) winner who has earnings of $1,903,810 and seven wins in 16 starts. She paid $5.74 to win as the favorite.
Hidden Connection chased in second throughout on Saturday, and Misty Veil was another 4 1/4 lengths back in third.
The winner is a 5-year-old daughter of Flatter, who stood at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky before his death in May 2022. Other grade 1 winners by Flatter include West Coast , Flat Out , Taris , and Paola Queen .
Video: Locust Grove S. (G3)
Bango Notches Record-Tying 11th Win at Churchill
Tamaroak Partners' homebred Bango is now part of the Churchill Downs record books.
The sprinter tied Ready's Rocket 's all-time documented wins record of 11 victories beneath the Twin Spires when he determinedly bid from Gulfstream Way to capture the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes. He won the $300,000 race by a head.
Bango (inside) edges Gulfstream Way in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes
Gulfstream Way was a stubborn runner-up, finishing well clear of Necker Island in third.
The victorious 6-year-old, now 11-for-19 in dirt races at Churchill Downs, pressed the pace of Strobe before taking command. He ran six furlongs in 1:09.02 under Gaffalione, paying $4.32 to win.
"These owners, Fred and Debbie Schwartz (of Tamaroak Partners), have been with us for a very long time. They've stuck with me through my career and it's special their horse is part of history," trainer Greg Foley said.
Bango is a son of Congrats, who was pensioned from stud duty at WinStar Farm after the 2021 breeding season. Congrats has sired such grade 1 horses as Turbulent Descent , Haveyougoneaway , Wickedly Perfect , and Emma's Encore .
Video: Louisville Thoroughbred Society S. (BT)
YuugirI Defeats Fire on Time, Wicked Halo in Open Mind
Two races after the Louisville Thoroughbred Society, Tsunebumi and Sekie Yoshihara's Yuugiri showed an appreciation for a return to dirt, running down pacesetter and eventual runner-up Fire on Time to capture the $299,000 Open Mind Stakes.
Heavily favored Wicked Halo ran a lackluster third.
The Rudy Brisset trainee ran six furlongs in 1:09.43, winning by three lengths under Flavien Prat. She returned $8.74 to win.
Yuugiri wins the Open Mind Stakes
The Open Mind marked her sixth victory in 13 starts for the graded-winning Yuugiri, who had been sixth on a synthetic surface at Presque Isle Downs in her previous start Aug. 14 in the Satin and Lace Stakes. Brisset said her erred in racing her on synthetic in that start, and in a grass sprint this spring.
The Yoshiharas bred Yuugirl in Kentucky out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Yuzuru .
Yuugiri is a 4-year-old daughter of Shackleford, the 2011 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner, who initially stood at Darby Dan Farm before being sold as a stallion to the Korea Racing Authority. Two of his top performers are graded 1 winners Stilleto Boy and Promises Fulfilled .