Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's hard-knocking New York-bred Bankit ended a 13-race drought in Saturday's Alex M. Robb over multiple stakes-winner Mr. Buff at Aqueduct racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.
The son of New York stallion Central Banker matched his career-best 98 Beyer for the 4 ¾-length victory, a number which he also recorded when finishing third to Funny Guy in the Commentator on June 12 at Belmont Park.
Bankit, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, was 0-for-11 during his 2020 campaign until the Alex M. Robb but earned placing six times against stakes company, including two narrow second-place finishes in the Fifth Season and Grade 3 Razorback at Oaklawn Park over the winter, where he was only a head shy of victory.
“He's been running in some pretty tough company from time to time and always seems to show up and bring home a check,” said David Fiske, Winchell Thoroughbreds' racing and bloodstock manager. “He's a durable, consistent horse. He always seems to show up no matter who you run him against.”
No future plans have yet been made for Bankit, but Fiske said that options include shipping down to Asmussen's winter division at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, or staying in New York.
“We haven't really talked about it much. We were all just excited about him winning and the way he won yesterday, he looked great against that bunch,” Fiske said. “He seems to like Aqueduct pretty well. Whether he'll go back down to Oaklawn or not, I don't know. Some of that may depend on weather. Sometimes, you get long stretches where you can't train and stay in a regular rhythm in works.”
The Alex M. Robb marked Bankit's third stakes victory and fourth overall win through a 26-race career. During his juvenile season, he was an emphatic 5 ¾-length winner of the Sleepy Hollow at Belmont Park and took Finger Lakes' New York Derby the following year.
Bred in the Empire State by Hidden Brook Farm and Blue Devil Racing, Bankit is out of the Colonel John mare Sister in Arms. He was purchased for $260,000 from the OBS March Sale in 2018.
The post Central Banker Colt Bankit ‘Always Seems To Show Up And Bring Home A Check’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
