Bankit comes up on right side of photo in Evan Shipman
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Though he had banked more than $1 million in his career, Bankit had a history of getting short-changed in some big money spots.
Six times in his 33-race career entering Friday’s $125,000 Evan Shipman Handicap, Bankit had finished second by a nose, head, or neck, including stakes here at Saratoga as a 2- and 3-year-old.
Friday, however, Bankit came out on the right side of a close finish, wearing down a stubborn pacesetting Sea Foam to win the Evan Shipman by a nose. It was 3 1/2 lengths back to Brooklyn Strong in third.
The win was the seventh from 34 starts for Bankit, a 6-year-old son of Central Banker owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton and trained by Steve Asmussen.
Both Bankit and Sea Foam were coming off extended layoffs. Bankit hadn’t run since March 26, when he finished sixth in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile in Dubai. Sea Foam hadn’t run since winning the Alex M. Robb last Dec. 31 at Aqueduct.
In June, Bankit had entrapped his epiglottis following a morning training session and underwent a minor surgical procedure to correct it. Asmussen said he wasn’t sure he had done enough with the horse in preparation for the Evan Shipman.
“And I was really worried about it at the sixteenth pole,” Asmussen said. “He got there and he just gutted it out the last part.”
Rosario had Bankit in fifth position early while Sea Foam, under Kendrick Carmouche, set fractions of 24.55 seconds for the quarter, 48.02 for the half and 1:12.63 with Market Alert off his flank.
Rosario split horses on Bankit entering the far turn and was moved out to the center of the track in the stretch. Sea Foam had put away Market Alert and looked poised to win his second consecutive Evan Shipman. But Bankit got to and then past Sea Foam in the final strides for the win.
“He got there and it looked like he just waited a little bit,” Rosario said. “The other horse, it was a little hard to pass him.”
:: DRF's Saratoga headquarters – Stakes schedule, previews, recaps, past performances, and more
Bankit covered the mile in 1:39.24 and returned $6 as the second choice. Tiergan, the surprising 9-5 favorite, finished sixth.
Bank On Anna takes Union Avenue
A better start led to a better finish for Bank On Anna Friday as she stalked the pacesetting Mashnee Girl, took over from that one at the three-sixteenths pole and drew off to a 2 3/4-length victory in the $125,000 Union Avenue Stakes for female sprinters.
Snicket rallied to get second by 1 1/2 lengths over Secret Love. Mashnee Girl was fourth, followed by Eloquent Speaker, Chasing Cara, and Grudge.
The win was the fourth from eight starts for Bank On Anna, a 3-year-old daughter of Central Banker owned by WellSpring Stables and trained by Phil Serpe.
Bank On Anna, ridden by Jose Lezcano, was coming off fifth-place finish in a first-level allowance where she got away poorly and never really got involved.
“Last time she kind of broke a little awkward,” Lezcano said. “Today I warmed her up good, I said if she breaks good I’m going, because a couple of fillies are going from long to short, and I was very confident that I would be right there. She broke good, I didn’t ask for anything and then when I asked her she went on and won the race.”
Bank On Anna covered the six furlongs in 1:12.32 and returned $7.60 as the second choice.
“I’m really happy because this is her first win without Lasix,” said Serpe, referring to the anti-bleeding medication that is not permitted for use in stakes. “That was a big thing for us, is that part of the [equation] or not? She proved today it’s not.”