Churchill Downs' Barn Notes: Foley Hopes Bango Can Tie Record In Upcoming Aristides Stakes

(Bango and trainer Greg Foley / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

From the Churchill Downs Media Team / Darren Rogers & Kevin Kerstein:

Tamaroak Partners’ Bango is one win away from tying the Churchill Downs all-time win mark set by Ready’s Rocket from 2005-12. The 6-year-old Bango will be in search of his 11 victory beneath the historic Twin Spires in the $225,000 Aristides Stakes (Listed) on Saturday, June 3.

          Campaigned by Greg Foley, Bango has recorded 10 victories beneath at Churchill Downs, the second-most documented in history at Churchill Downs. Bango’s first win at Churchill Downs was in 2019 in a maiden special weight contest. Since that victory, the son of Congrats has tallied five stakes wins including the last two runnings of the Aristides.

          “His record really speaks for itself,” Foley said. “He loves it at Churchill maybe just as much as I do. We’ve had our sights set on the record and it would be a really special accomplishment for all of us.”

          Bango was one of Foley’s first horses to arrive back at Churchill Downs in March. He made his 30career start in the $175,000 St. Matthews Overnight Stakes on May 4 where he dusted a field of six rivals by five lengths.

          “He’s all man. He’s not mean but he’s always a good feeling horse,” Foley said. “Our owners Fred and Debbie Schwartz bred and own this horse. I actually raced this horse’s mother (Josaka). It’s always special when you have a horse from the Schwartz’s breeding program. He’s a testament to their dedication to this sport.”

          Here are the top documented Churchill Downs wins by horses: Ready’s Rocket (11 wins), Bango (10),Barrister Siv (9), Can’tholdmeback (9), Herreno (9), Athenium (8), Bet On Sunshine (8), Canela (8), Crown Lease (8), Lord Rusty (8), Maxxed (8) and Paden (8).

          Entries for the Aristides Stakes will be drawn Monday.

ECHO ZULU MADE 4-5 MORNING LINE FAVORITE IN WINNING COLORS:

L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds’ multiple Grade I winner Echo Zulu was made the heavy 4-5 morning line choice in the field of six filly and mare sprinters that were entered for Memorial Day’s 20 running of the $225,000 Winning Colors Stakes (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

          Echo Zulu, who’s set to make the first start of her 4-year-old season, was also entered in Monday’s $100,000 Memorial Day Sprint at Lone Star Park but Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen confirmed that she will run in the Winning Colors.

          The Winning Colors Stakes is the featured eighth race on Monday’s nine-race program with a post time of 4:22 p.m. First post is 12:45 p.m.

          Echo Zulu was the Champion 2-year-old Filly in 2021 following victories in the Spinaway (GI), Frizette (GI) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI). As a 3-year-old, Asmussen kept Echo Zulu on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks where she was victorious in the Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) prior to her fourth-place effort in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI).

          The daughter of Gun Runner went to the sidelines following the Oaks but returned in the seven-furlong Dogwood Stakes (GIII) at Churchill Downs where easily defeated four rivals by 5 ¼ lengths. Asmussen kept Echo Zulu around one turn in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (GI) and was the runner-up toGoodnight Olive.

          Jockey Florent Geroux, who had a storied career aboard Echo Zulu’s sire Gun Runner, will have the call for the first time in the Winning Colors and break from post No. 5.

          Here is the complete field for the Winning Colors from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Spirit Wind (Brian Hernandez Jr., Ralph Nicks, 7-2); Scarlet Stripe (Jareth Loveberry, Whit Beckman, 15-1); Marissa’s Lady (Rafael Bejarano, Bill Morey, 10-1); Last Leaf (Corey Lanerie, Eddie Kenneally, 8-1); Echo Zulu (Geroux, Asmussen, 4-5); and Fire On Time (Martin Garcia, Dale Romans, 3-1).

          Monday is Military Appreciation Day at Churchill Downs where active and retired military will receive free general admission with their military I.D. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.ChurchillDowns.com.

‘CHURCHILL DOWNS TODAY’ AIRS ONE-HOUR PRIOR TO RACING:

Horseplayers can get the latest expert advice and a preview of the day’s card by watching “Churchill Downs Today” one hour prior to first post.

          Join Joe Kristufek, Scott Shapiro and Kaitlin Free as the trio will handicap the program, give crucial ticket-structure advice and inside information for horseplayers betting the racing program.

          Churchill Downs Today will be shown on www.TwinSpires.com, the Churchill Downs LIVE app on Smart TVs and Twitter via @ChurchillDowns.

‘AMERICA’S DAY AT THE RACES’ TV SCHEDULE:

Fans can watch racing from Churchill Downs on “America’s Day at the Races” on the Fox Sports family of networks. Here is this week’s TV schedule:

• Friday: 12:30-5:30 p.m., FS2
• Saturday: 12:30-6 p.m., FS2
• Sunday: 12:30-4:30 p.m., FS1 | 4:30-5:30 p.m., FS2
• Monday: 12:30-6 p.m., FS2

DOWN THE STRETCH:

Friday’s nine-race card had a first post of 12:45 p.m. There were no carryovers in the program after the Derby City 6 was hit Thursday for $55,773.60. … “Inside Churchill Downs” will return Friday from 6-7 p.m. on ESPN 680/105.7. The one-hour program will recap the Preakness Stakes (GI) and look ahead to the Memorial Day weekend at Churchill Downs. Those outside the Louisville area can listen online at www.espnlouisville.com. … Friday’s rail setting on the Matt Winn Turf Course will be in Lane 4, 36 feet from the inside. Saturday-Monday the rail will be in Lane 2, 12 feet from the inside. … Local jockeys Tyler Gaffalione, Rey Gutierrez, Ricardo Santana Jr. and CristianTorres are scheduled to ride Monday at Lone Star Park.