June 23, 2018 - Churchill Downs, Race 5, Msw, USD $51,000, 5F
1st Dam: Royale Paradise
2st Dam: Royale Michele
2st Dam: Michele Royale
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC & Willis Horton Racing LLC
Breeder: Pollock Farms (KY)
Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen
Bano Solo (c, 2, Goldencents-Royale Paradise, Unbridled’s Song) ran a deep-looking field of Churchill maidens off their feet to become the second ‘TDN Rising Star’ of the day Saturday.
The handsome bay first made headlines earlier this year at the OBS March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, firing a bullet quarter-mile in an eye-opening :20 1/5at the breeze show before bringing $400,000 from Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton. He displayed a typical Steve Asmussen worktab heading into this, which included a five-furlong move in 1:01 2/5 (16/31) at Churchill Downs June 10.
The 6-5 favorite blasted out from his inside draw despite taking a bump from his outside rival and led through an opening quarter in :22.54. Bano Solo had some company on the far turn, but not for long once they straightened in the stretch. He took off from there opening about five lengths and was geared down late to win by three lengths. Stablemate Ninth Street (Street Boss) was second.
Bano Solo becomes the third winner for his freshman sire (by Into Mischief). He is the most expensive of 26 2-year-olds by the two-time GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner to change hands this year.
Bano Solo is out of the unraced Unbridled’s Song mare Royale Paradise, who is also represented by a Carpe Diem colt of 2017 and a Street Sense colt of 2018. His second dam Royale Michele (Elusive Quality) won the 2009 GII Barbara Fritchie H. at Laurel.
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