Asmussen looking ahead with Bankit, Mia Mischief

Wednesday was a day of mixed emotions for trainer Steve Asmussen, who won the $150,000 New York Derby at Finger Lakes with Bankit a short while before his Mia Mischief finished fourth as the 6-5 favorite here in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss.

Bankit registered his first victory of the year in the 1 1/16-mile New York Derby, rallying through a narrow opening near the eighth pole under jockey Eric Cancel en route to a 1 1/4-length decision over the pacesetting Not That Brady. Bankit, a New York-bred son of Central Banker, was briefly on the Kentucky Derby trail earlier this season, running in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn and the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.

“It’s good to have him back running well,” Asmussen said at his barn here Thursday morning. “He’s a nice 3-year-old who happens to be a New York-bred and we’ll stay with New York-breds and target the Albany here next.”

The $250,000 Albany will be decided at 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 23.

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Asmussen said he got a little nervous watching Bankit try to slip through tight quarters between horses when making his move in the stretch.

“Eric did a good job. It looked like there was plenty of room when he started his move, but he might have wanted to reconsider his options at that point,” said Asmussen with a grin. “And I was thinking I’m glad he’s so big when he finally came through that hole.”

Mia Mischief was beaten 2 1/4 lengths by wire-to-wire winner Minit to Stardom in the Honorable Miss. Mia Mischief had won two straight going into the Honorable Miss, including the Grade 1 Humana Distaff in May at Churchill Downs.

“It wasn’t her best race by any means, but give credit to the winner, she ran a phenomenal race,” said Asmussen.

“But she came out of it in good shape, so we’ll target the Ballerina next since that was the major goal for her here this summer.”

The Grade 1 Ballerina will be run on Aug. 24.