Tag: Racing

History is on the line in Saturday's $300,000 Bet On Sunshine as Tamaroak Partners' 11-time Churchill Downs winner Bango will attempt to win his record-setting 12th victory beneath the Twin Spires.

Bango, who won his record-tying 11th race at Churchill Downs in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes, was made the 6-5 morning line favorite.

“He ran OK at Keeneland in the Phoenix (G2) but we just know how much better he seems to run at Churchill.” Foley said. “He's as solid of a horse as you can get. Winning number 11 and tying Ready's Rocket was a very special day. We've got at least one more to chase this year and hopefully that happens Saturday.”

Bango will face several familiar foes in the Bet On Sunshine including Tejano Twist (5-2), Miles Ahead (6-1), Necker Island (8-1) and Manny Wah (10-1).

With several of the colony's top riders in California for this weekend's Breeders' Cup World Championships, Bango will be reunited with Marcelino Pedroza Jr. The duo teamed up for five starts including a victory in the 2021 Aristides Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Here is the complete field for the Bet On Sunshine from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Tejano Twist (Chris Landeros, Chris Hartman, 5-2); Necker Island (Mitchell Murrill, Chris Hartman, 8-1); Manny Wah (Corey Lanerie, Wayne Catalano, 10-1); Exxel (Francisco Arrieta, Valorie Lund, 20-1); Empire of Gold (Richard Eramia, Terry Eoff, 20-1); Sir Alfred James (Gabe Saez, Raymond Ginter Jr., 12-1); Miles Ahead (Joe Talamo, Paul McGee, 6-1); Bango (Pedroza, Foley, 6-5); and Awesome Aaron (Edgar Morales, Troy Green, 20-1).

The Bet On Sunshine was carded as Race 10 at 7 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 1 p.m. Fans on-site at Churchill Downs can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs along with the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Each of Churchill Downs live races will be run in between the nine Breeders' Cup races that will all be shown around the venue and on the Big Board.

Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

The post ‘As Solid Of A Horse As You Can Get’: Bango Goes For Record-Setting 12th Victory At Churchill Downs appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Easily the most accomplished horse in a field of 13, trainer Mark Casse's millionaire Webslinger should be tough to beat at a mile and one eighth on grass in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita.

Most recently second by a head at 1 3/16 miles on turf in the G1 Saratoga Invitational Derby Aug. 5, Webslinger ships in from his Keeneland base and will be handled by regular rider Javier Castellano.

A winner of the G2 American Turf May 6 at Churchill Downs, Webslinger is a three-time stakes winner that would prefer to rally into a fast pace but has proven he can lay close if necessary.

Owned by D.J. Stable, he was purchased for a bargain $50,000 as a 2-year-old and has amassed earnings of $1,025,320 from an overall race record of 11-4-3-1. By Constitution out of the Hard Spun mare Arana, Webslinger, who was beaten four lengths in last year's G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland, seeks his second graded stakes win on Saturday.

Trainer Leonard Powell's consistent Irish-bred Maltese Falcon, a winner as a maiden of the G3 La Jolla Handicap three starts back, was subsequently second by a head in the G2 Del Mar Derby at a mile and one eighth on grass Sept. 3 and was most recently fourth as the 2-1 favorite in a classified allowance here Oct. 8.

Owned by Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal, Maltese Falcon, who is 9-1-3-2, will be handled by regular rider Juan Hernandez and is another that would prefer to sit off of a lively early pace.

Phil D'Amato's English-bred Almendares, who rallied impressively to take his U.S. debut in a first condition allowance going a mile and one sixteenth on grass July 23, came back to run a solid third, beaten one length in the G2 Del Mar Derby and with Antonio Fresu set to ride him back, appears very much on the improve as he comes back at the same mile and one eighth distance.

Owned by CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, Saul Gervitz, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano, Almendares, who is 7-3-1-2 overall, is another solid contender who looks to be on the improve.

Lightly raced, Richard Mandella's English-bred Seal Team has nonetheless been very impressive through his four starts. A 3 ¾ length maiden winner at a mile and one eighth on turf three starts back at Del Mar Aug. 19, Seal Team was in command in his most recent out, a half length allowance win at the same trip on Oct. 8 here at Santa Anita—a race in which he earned a lofty 90 Beyer Speed Figure.

Bred by Bass Stables and owned by Perry and Ramona Bass, Seal Team, unbeaten at a mile and one eighth on turf, will make his first stakes appearance with regular rider Umberto Rispoli.

John Sadler's Irish-bred gelding Panic Alarm is yet another horse that appears to have considerable upside. Second, beaten one length by Maltese Falcon in his U.S. debut, the G3 LaJolla Stakes Aug. 6, Panic Alarm was in tight quarters around the far turn in the G2 Del Mar Derby when fourth, beaten 1 ½ lengths on Sept. 3.

Owned by Hronis Racing, LLC, Panic Alarm, who is 10-2-1-3, will be making his third start for Sadler on Saturday.

THE GRADE 2 TWILIGHT DERBY WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 2 of 12 Approximate post time 10:40 a.m. PT

1. Reiquist—Ramon Vazquez —124
2. Be Your Best – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – 121
3. Reincarnate – Luis Saez – 124
4. Packs A Wahlop – Hector Berrios – 124
5. Panic Alarm – Lanfranco Dettori – 124
6. Webslinger – Javier Castellano – 124
7. Seal Team – Umberto Rispoli – 124
8. Almendares – Antonio Fresu – 124
9. California Bay – Tiago Pereira – 124
10. Maltese Falcon – Juan Hernandez – 124
11. Mondego – Joel Rosario – 124
12. Silver Knott – William Buick – 124
13. Watsonville – Flavian Prat – 124

Saturday is day two of the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita. With a blockbuster 12-race card that will include nine Breeders' Cup races, first post time is at 10:10 a.m. with admission gates opening at 8 a.m.

The post BC Saturday Undercard: Millionaire Webslinger Could Be Tough To Beat In Twilight Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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