Bango goes for #13 at Churchill
Stakes preview and photo by Churchill Downs’ Kevin Kerstein
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024) – Tamaroak Partners’ Bango, the all-time leading horse with 12 career wins at Churchill Downs, will seek victory No. 13 in 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, visitwww.churchilldowns.com.
