Bank Frenzy tries to even up 2025 series with Doc Sullivan in Alex M. Robb

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Doc Sullivan and Bank Frenzy will close out 2025 like they did 2024, with a meeting in the $125,000 Alex M. Robb Stakes, the feature on Friday’s 10-race Aqueduct card as racing resumes on this circuit following a nearly two-week break.

Bank Frenzy beat Doc Sullivan by a nose in last year’s Robb which kick-started the rivalry this year between these two consistent statebred runners. In 2025, Bank Frenzy and Doc Sullivan have met three times with Doc Sullivan winning twice, including last month’s Thunder Rumble division of the New York Stallion Series on Nov. 22.

Friday’s meeting could be the determining factor in who wins the New York-bred champion older dirt male award, an honor typically announced in April. Bank Frenzy was the 2024 honoree.

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The Robb, contested at one mile, drew seven, but is expected to lose two runners. The Wine Steward, who is the 2-1 morning-line second choice, will scratch according to trainer Mike Maker, who said his horse needs additional time. General Banker is entered in an allowance race on Saturday’s card.

Doc Sullivan beat Bank Frenzy in both the John Morrissey at Saratoga and the Thunder Rumble. Both races were run over wet tracks and at seven furlongs. The Robb is run at one mile, a distance at which Bank Frenzy is 6 for 10.

Randy Sarf, of LSU Stables, which owns Bank Frenzy, said he likes to run his horse at “a mile or better” and was considering entering him in Saturday’s Queens County Stakes going 1 1/8 miles, but felt that race was coming up too tough.

Sarf noted that Doc Sullivan holds an edge over Bank Frenzy going seven furlongs.

“We weren’t meant to run seven furlongs,” Sarf said.

With trainer Rudy Rodriguez having been suspended by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority while he’s being investigated for allegations he failed to provide proper veterinary care for some of his horses, Sarf moved Bank Frenzy to trainer Miguel Clement.

“I think he’s the type of horse that could be in any barn,” Sarf said. “He’s had the same routine.”

Manny Franco will ride Bank Frenzy for the 10th consecutive race.

Doc Sullivan has started five times for trainer John Ortiz. He has two statebred stakes wins and a narrow defeat to Bank Frenzy in the Empire Classic. In between, he has two fourth-place finishes in graded stakes.

Doc Sullivan should have no issue with a mile, and he does move up over a wet track. As of Monday afternoon, there was a chance for some precipitation in the form of snow on Friday afternoon.

Ricardo Santana Jr. rides Doc Sullivan.

Quick to Accuse was fourth behind Bank Frenzy and Doc Sullivan in the Empire Classic. Locke and Key has finished behind those two in other stakes during the year. Share the Ludt is coming off a New York-bred allowance win going 6 1/2 furlongs on Nov. 15.

The Robb goes as race 9 on a 10-race card that begins at 11:40 a.m.

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