Banishing proves big figure was no fluke in Byerley Turk romp
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE?q=100)
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Banishing backed up a notable Beyer Speed Figure he earned earlier in the meet at Oaklawn Park with a 7 1/2-length win in the $145,000 Byerley Turk overnight stakes Thursday.
The six-furlong race was the first of 10 overnight stakes that are new to Oaklawn's racing program this season.
Banishing ($3.60) earned a Beyer of 103 for a Dec. 20 win at Oaklawn in his last start. That number is the highest put up so far this meet. Banishing was sharp Thursday, setting a pressured pace of 22.10 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.75 for the half-mile. He shook his rivals from there and went on to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:10.66.
Osbourne and Wendelssohn finished in a dead heat for second, while it was another length back to Gold Luck.
The win was Banishing's third straight in a streak that began with a Nov. 23 victory in a second-level allowance at Churchill Downs. He proceeded to take the Dec. 20 allowance at Oaklawn over Tejano Twist, who is set to run back Saturday in the $150,000 King Cotton.
Banishing is a son of Ghostzapper who races for Lawrence Roman and his trainer, David Jacobson. Ricardo Santana Jr. was aboard for the win Thursday.
The card was originally scheduled for last Monday but was moved to Thursday due to a stretch of freezing temperatures. Racing resumes Friday in Hot Springs.
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