Churchill Star Bango Seeks Keeneland Glory in Phoenix

Bango, the co-winningest horse in documented Churchill Downs history with 11 wins beneath the Twin Spires, pursues his first victory at Keeneland against a contentious group of sprinters in the Oct. 6 Phoenix Stakes (G2).

In addition to its $350,000 purse, the six-furlong Phoenix offers an automatic, paid berth in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park. The Phoenix is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.

With earnings of more than $1,459,261, Tamaroak Partners’ Bango is one of three millionaires in Friday’s 11-horse field, alongside stakes winners Sibelius  ($1,660,639) and Necker Island  ($1,026,107). Also in the lineup is Manny Wah , a comebacking $907,109 earner who captured the Phoenix last year before a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland.

Bango’s appearance in the Phoenix, on opening day of the Lexington track’s fall meet, marks his third start at Keeneland. In his last start in April 2021, he ran fourth in the seven-furlong Commonwealth Stakes (G3), beaten two lengths by Flagstaff . That race followed his Keeneland debut in the 2020 Perryville Stakes the prior fall when he also finished fourth, 9 1/2 lengths behind track record-setting Nashville   in a six-furlong race the winner completed in 1:07.89.

The Greg Foley-trained Bango is having one of his best campaigns this year, having gone 3-2-0 in five starts with earnings of $491,546. The 6-year-old Congrats  horse comes off two consecutive victories, the first coming at Ellis Park by a half-length in the July 1 Kelly’s Landing Stakes and then followed by his history-making win at Churchill Downs in the Sept. 16 Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes. He edged Phoenix competitor Gulfstream Way  by a head in the latter race with Necker Island 3 3/4 lengths behind the winner in third.

A record tying victory for BANGO in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes! Congrats @Foley_Racing and @Tyler_Gaff! 🏇🏽 pic.twitter.com/VriTNwY9xv

— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) September 16, 2023

The Opposition

• Jun Park and Delia Nash’s Sibelius, who captured the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) at Meydan in March, seeks to rebound following two subpar performances after returning from overseas.
• The Scherr Boys’ Necker Island picks up jockey Flavien Prat. The sprinter won the off-the-turf Mighty Beau Stakes at Ellis Park this summer. 
• Susan Moulton’s Manny Wah races for the first time since April when he ran fifth in an allowance optional claiming race at Keeneland. Jockey Corey Lanerie, who enters Friday’s card one win away from a 5,000-win milestone, has the mount.
• Qatar Racing and Mrs. Fitriani Hay’s Nakatomi , who splashed his way to a 3 1/2-length win at Saratoga Race Course in the slop July 16, is 3-for-4 at Keeneland and has Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard.