Banishing, with three wins and four seconds from eight starts, has earned $984,730 this year for owners David Jacobson and Lawrence Roman. He’s well over $1 million in earnings since Roman paid $80,000 for him last summer at a horses of racing age auction. At the time, Banishing was struggling mightily to clear his second allowance condition for his breeder, Godolphin, and in less than a year the gelding has made 13 starts. Perhaps he has slowed a touch in his last few, but only a touch. Banishing sits at 6-5 on the Ellis Park morning line for Sunday’s $200,000 R.A. Cowboy Jones Stakes, a 1 1/2-turn mile that suits him perfectly. But Jacobson, who trains Banishing, might seek bigger game. He nominated Banishing to the $1 million Charles Town Classic on Aug. 22 and late this week said he was 50-50 to scratch Sunday. From the sound of things, that might overstate the chance Banishing runs at Ellis. “It’s $200,000 versus $1 million,” Jacobson said, explaining his thinking. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. A Banishing scratch would leave a field of six for the Jones, Cagliostro the potential favorite. While Banishing brought home big bucks in Arkansas, Cagliostro wintered in Dubai, sent by his owner, Wathnan Racing, from the Keeneland barn of Cherie DeVaux to trainer Hamad Al-Jehani. Running shortly after arriving in the Middle East, Cagliostro won the Firebreak Stakes in January. He ran worse, finishing fourth, in the Burj Nahaar, then was scratched sick from his main target, the Godolphin Mile. Back Cagliostro went to DeVaux at Keeneland. DeVaux said before the Hanshin Stakes on June 29 at Churchill that Cagliostro would need the race, and that’s how he ran, fading mildly through the last furlong to finish fifth. Expect improvement Sunday, though Brian Hernandez Jr., who hasn’t ridden Caglistro since February 2023, must work out a trip from post 2. Tumbarumba breaks from post 1, very familiar with the horse immediately to his outside. He and Cagliostro first met in the Oklahoma Derby in September 2023 and they’ve squared off four times since. Not much separates them, though Cagliostro ought to have more upside on the day. Even with a relatively short field, the Jones should unfold at a strong tempo, with This Is Uscar, Prince of Power, and Frosted Departure all likely to show speed. Three Technique, not at all an impossible winner, will make the last run. They’re all probably running for second if Banishing shows up. Audubon Oaks Vodka With a Twist made her turf debut last month in the Pea Patch Stakes at Ellis Park, and it didn’t go well. The filly ran an even, inadequate race, checking in sixth. It’s what she did in her previous start that figures to make Vodka With a Twist favored Sunday in the $200,000 Audubon Oaks. Cutting back to seven furlongs after three two-turn tests – including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies – exposed distance limitations, Vodka With a Twist set the pace in the June 8 Leslie’s Lady at Churchill Downs, holding the lead until Kilwin ran her down. To say Kilwin flattered that result is to say too little. Making her first start after the Leslie’s Lady, Kilwin overcame a poor start going last to first in the Grade 1 Test last weekend at Saratoga, earning a 96 Beyer Speed Figure. Vodka With a Twist and 11 others were entered in the seven-furlong Audubon Oaks, though three of these 3-year-old fillies hold entries in other races over the weekend. Impulse Buy, who has the credentials to win, runs Saturday at Colonial Downs, trainer Rodolphe Brisset said. Front-running Vodka With a Twist, Cristian Torres riding for Phil D’Amato, will have to be much the best to overcome her rail draw and a host of pace rivals stacked to her outside. Sturgeon Moon, 10-1 on the track’s morning line, could be the horse to capitalize. Sturgeon Moon, while far from top class, showed some ability as a 2-year-old and raced against a strong track bias finishing third July 5 in the Indiana Oaks, her first race since November. She’s never run as fast as Vodka With a Twist did in June, but she’s set to improve in a race that could flow her way. Groupie Doll Alpine Princess rode a strong inside speed bias to victory last month in the Marie Hulman George Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis. She still stands as a formidable favorite Sunday in the $200,000 Groupie Doll. Alpine Princess drew the rail and will have Tyler Gaffalione on her back for the first time. Luan Machado rode her in Indiana for trainer Brad Cox but on Sunday has the mount on Pigalle, who won a lesser renewal of this race a year ago. Machado sent Alpine Princess last out to play the bias, but the 4-year-old filly, solid Grade 3 class, also can stalk and pounce, though her only rival who might have more speed, if asked, is her stablemate, Impel. Regaled makes her first start since being purchased at auction in May for $300,000 and turned over to trainer Whit Beckman. Her first dozen starts don’t fit the Groupie Doll, but Regaled came suddenly to hand in the spring, and if she runs back to her near miss in an April one-turn mile behind subsequent graded stakes winner Royal Spa, she could run down Alpine Princess. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.