Keying Bango in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society S.

A field of six will dash three-quarters of a mile on the Churchill Downs dirt in Saturday’s $275,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society S. Course specialist #5 Bango, a winner of three straight stakes races overall, is the obvious one to beat for conditioner Greg Foley. The four-year-old son of Congrats is a six-time winner beneath the Twin Spires from nine tries on the famed surface, and he has never been better in advance of Saturday.

Bango has displayed top versatility this campaign, winning from well back or while prompting the action from the start, and he comes in fresh while displaying a steady string of morning drills as of late. The dark bay Kentucky-bred figures to sit a few lengths off a contested early tempo before pouncing in the stretch en route to his fourth straight black-type tally. Tyler Gaffalione, who booted him home first in the Kelly’s Landing S. on this course two prior, will be in the silks.

I will use two horses under the top pick for the exotics. #3 Just Might, who has won stakes races in a trio of outings in succession, is an obvious inclusion. The Michelle Lovell pupil is a proven commodity on both turf and dirt, evidenced by his game score in the Chesapeake S. on the Colonial Downs main strip last time out.

The gelded son of Justin Philip brings speed to the field but can also run from off the pace, which will give pilot Rafael Bejarano options soon after the break.

#2 Endorsed makes his first appearance since being claimed for a hefty $100,000 at Saratoga recently. Now in the hands of Mike Maker, the Medaglia d’Oro five-year-old is not especially consistent, but this barn does wonders when acquiring horses and I envision a top performance from him after facing two stout fields in the Empire State. The bay shows a pair of bullet morning drills in succession and he could be forwardly placed in the early going in this heat.

Exotics plays in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society S.

• $20 exacta 5 with 2,3 ($40)
• $10 trifecta key 5 with 2,3 with 2,3 ($20)