Bango sets track record in Turfway’s Animal Kingdom

Turfway Park release (Coady Photography photos)

Florence, Ky., (March 14, 2020) – Tamaroak Partners’ Bango cruised to a 2 1/2-length victory and set a Turfway Park track record in Saturday’s 6 1/2-furlong, $75,000 Mayers Electric Company Animal Kingdom Stakes.

Rafael Bejarano guided Tamaroak Partners’ Bango to victory in Turfway Park’s Animal Kingdom Stakes

Bango stopped the clock in a scintillating 1:14.99, setting a record by .36 seconds. The previous record was set by Cielo Song in 2006. 

It was like old times in Kentucky, with Rafael Bejarano riding for Greg Foley, one of the trainers instrumental in launching the jockey in Kentucky before he relocated to a highly successful career in California. Now, with California racing struggling, Bejarano is coming back to the resurgent Kentucky circuit.

Bango sat just off the blazing pace set by My Man Flintstone and Williston Way as the dueling leaders clipped through an opening quarter-mile in :21.06 and a half-mile time of 43.71. Just outside of the three-eighths pole, Bejarano sent Bango three wide past a tiring Williston Way and was able to collar My Man Flintstone inside the eighth-pole.

“It was a little nerve-wracking when he was that close to the early pace,” Foley said. “They were flying up front, but he won very impressively. It was great to team up with Rafael again and it was very special for Fred and Debbie Schwartz to win with a homebred. He ran huge.”

Said Bejarano: “I had a beautiful trip. I got to stay outside with a perfect post. Gave the horse a chance to get good position, get him in the clear and he was much the best today. I’m really happy to run for Greg Foley; he always helps me, so I was really glad to win for him.” 

Bango rewarded his backers and returned $14.60, $7 and $3.20. My Man Flintstone, under jockey Corey Lanerie, returned $7.60 and $3.80, while Merchants of Cool, ridden by Gerardo Corrales, closed for third and returned $2.40 as the even-money favorite. 

Amongst, Williston Way, Newstome, Howard of Luck and Torres Del Paine completed the running order. Kierkegaard was scratched. 

This was Foley’s third victory in the Animal Kingdom. He previously teamed with Bejarano to win in 2004 with Silver Minister and in 2003 with Champali. 

Bango is a 3-year-old son of Congrats out of the Smart Strike mare Josaka. He was bred in Kentucky by Fred and Debbie Schwartz’s Tamaroak Partners. Bango improved his record to 6-3-1-1 and earnings of $181,077.

The Animal Kingdom Stakes was renamed in 2018 in honor of the 2011 Kentucky Derby winner and Jeff Ruby Steaks winner (then the Spiral Stakes). The race was given a $25,000 purse hike for 2020.