Bango Chases History in Bet on Sunshine

He may not be chasing international glory in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) but Louisville local hero Bango will attempt to cement his name in a different type of racing history when he goes for a record 12th Churchill Downs win in the Nov. 4 $300,000 Bet on Sunshine Stakes.

The 6-year-old had already matched the Churchill Downs record two starts back with a hard-fought victory in the Sept. 16 Thoroughbred Society Stakes under the Twin Spires. In that race, he tied Ready's Rocket's 10-year standard of 11 wins. A homebred for Tamaroak Stable, the 'King of Churchill Downs' had already loosely tied the Louisville track's win record with his second score in the Kelly's Landing Stakes July 1. However, when Churchill relocated its' annual spring/summer race meeting to Ellis Park following a string of catastrophic breakdowns, Bango's win went unaccounted for in the Churchill record books.

Trained by Greg Foley, Bango could've very well been racing at Santa Anita Park on Saturday had he won the 'Win and You're In' Phoenix Stakes (G2) at Keeneland Oct. 6. Nonetheless, the old warrior had to settle for third, beaten only a length after a wide trip. That left the six-furlong Bet on Sunshine, a race he won last year, as the next target.

With Bango's regular rider Tyler Gaffalione out in California, Marcellino Pedroza has the call on the 6-5 morning line favorite.

Familiar rivals Manny Wah , Miles Ahead , Necker Island , and Tejano Twist  are back to thwart Bango's bid on Saturday.