Aqueduct: Lady Banks likely to stretch out

Adam Coglianese/NYRA

Lady Banks, winner of the Ruthless Stakes, will likely stretch out in her next start.

Lady Banks, winner of Saturday’s $75,000 Ruthless Stakes at six furlongs, will likely get the opportunity to stretch out in distance for her next start, trainer James Lawrence said Monday. One option is the $150,000 Caesars Wish Stakes at Laurel on March 2 at a mile.

“That’s a very big possibility,” Lawrence said Monday form the Fair Hill training center where he is based. “We’re only an hour and 20 minutes away from Laurel. That would make a lot of sense. There are several different possibilities, including Florida, but we’ll see what fits her best and do what’s right for the filly.”

Though she is by Successful Appeal, Lady Banks is out of the dam House of Soviet’s, who is a half-sister to the 1998 Santa Anita Derby winner Indian Charlie.

“That would make me hopeful she’d stretch out,” said Lawrence, whose filly has run only six furlongs thus far.

Lawrence said he and owners George and Stephanie Autry had received numerous offers for Lady Banks right after she finished second in her debut here in the fall. On Saturday, George Autry indicated the filly is not for sale.

“There were generous offers made that made us think she’s really special,” Autry said. “We’re going to try and have some fun with her.”

Lady Banks ran six furlongs in 1:12.14 in the mud and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 77.