Banjo Picker's 47-1 win keys $183K carryover

There will be a pick-six carryover of $183,730 awaiting handicappers when racing resumes at Aqueduct on Dec. 28, and Banjo Picker's upset of Sunday's $112,000 was the catalyst.

Banjo Picker, the longest shot on the board in the 10-horse field at 47-1, outsprinted four other speed types to the lead, then came again after being headed by 45-1 shot Pioneer Empire in deep stretch to win the Grade 3 Gravesend by a head. It was a neck back to Saay Mi Name, who rallied along the rail.

Banjo Picker, ridden by Tara Hemmings, had to withstand a stewards' inquiry and claims of foul by Jose Espinoza, the rider of Pioneer Empire, and Art Madrid Jr., the rider of Saay Mi Name, both of whom alleged interference in the stretch.

Breaking from the rail, Banjo Picker outsprinted Spooky Mulder, Acclimate, and Presidentialaffair to the lead through an opening quarter-mile in 22.17 seconds. Smokume, the 9-5 favorite, was caught six wide while chasing the pace.

Banjo Picker ran a half-mile in 45.21 seconds and drifted out slightly in the stretch, though it didn't seem to impede either Pioneer Empire or Saay Mi Name. Banjo Picker, a 5-year-old Pennsylvania-bred son of Swear by Dixie owned by Danny Limongelli and trained by Steve Krebs, covered six furlongs in 1:10.17 and returned $96.

"He's as game as they come," Hemmings said. "Steve could have put another jockey on, but he stayed loyal to me, and I am very appreciative for that."

The victory was the first in a graded stakes for Hemmings, a 28-year-old native of England, and for Krebs.

"I was looking at the Form all night and really thought he fit in with these horses," Krebs said.

Aqueduct is dark this week and will reopen on Dec. 28. Entries for that card will be taken on Friday.