Bankit, Sea Foam face off in shortened Evan Shipman
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Veterans Bankit and Sea Foam square off in the Evan Shipman, while sprinting stalwarts Ny Traffic and My Boy Tate head the John Morrissey on a Friday card at Saratoga where seven of the 10 races are restricted to New York-breds, including three stakes.
The Evan Shipman and John Morrissey are both worth $125,000, as is the Union Avenue, a race for female statebred sprinters. A fourth stakes, the Johnstone Mile, formerly known as the Saratoga Dew, did not have enough entries to fill, though it could be run Sunday if it fills when entries for that card are taken Thursday.
The Evan Shipman has been shortened from 1 1/8 miles to a mile and will be run out of the Wilson Chute. That likely favors Bankit over Sea Foam, the latter a multiple winner at 1 1/8 miles, including last year’s Evan Shipman.
Bankit also is a winner at 1 1/8 miles, but he won the 2021 Commentator Stakes by 13 1/4 lengths at Belmont Park the last time he ran a one-turn mile versus statebreds. The Commentator was a race he was being pointed to this year, but that May 31 race failed to fill.
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During training in June, Bankit entrapped his epiglottis and underwent surgery to correct that, according to trainer Steve Asmussen.
“He’s such a cool horse, he’s made a million dollars the hard way, he’s earned it, he has shown up,” said Asmussen, who trains Bankit for Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton. “It’s great to get him back running.”
Joel Rosario will ride Bankit from the rail as the 124-pound highweight.
Sea Foam gave Michelle Giangiulio her first win as a trainer when he captured last year’s Evan Shipman. After defeats in the Greenwood Cup and Empire Classic, Sea Foam ended his year with a front-running victory in the Alex M. Robb, his 10th win from 26 career starts.
After an extended break, Giangiulio is ready to bring Sea Foam back and is hopeful the shorter distance won’t be a problem, though she wished he didn’t have the outside post in this seven-horse field.
“It’s a matter if he can get an easy lead or not,” Giangiulio said. “I think he can handle the mile fine. He loves this track, just hope everything works out good. He’s going to have to break really sharp and hopefully get in front.”
Three Jokers, Market Alert, Tiergan, Brooklyn Strong, and Therisastormbrewin complete the field.
Ny Traffic tops Morrissey
After running fourth to Jackie’s Warrior in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt less than two weeks ago, Ny Traffic returns to much kinder company in the $125,000 John Morrissey at six furlongs.
Ny Traffic has won his last three starts versus statebreds, including the Affirmed Success in April at Belmont and the Hudson Handicap last October, also at Belmont.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said he doesn’t mind running the horse back in less than two weeks.
“We took a chance running against Jackie’s Warrior trying be sportsmen and hoping to get a piece of it and he ran fourth,” Joseph said. “This is a more realistic spot. Hopefully, he can handle the quick turnaround.”
Ny Traffic, who breaks from the outside post, has to carry 125 pounds, spotting 3 to 7 pounds to the field.
“That’s always a concern, but I like where we’re drawn, he’s a horse that’s always run better in the clear so we’ll give it a go,” Joseph said. “Hopefully, we get some speed to follow.”
There does seem to be plenty of speed, with Saint Selby, a winner of two straight allowance races, drawn in post 1 and Wudda U Think Now, who ran two dynamite races during the winter at Aqueduct, drawn in post 2. Wudda U Think Now, who won the Hollies Hughes in February, is getting blinkers added after running fourth in an allowance June 21 at Parx Racing.
My Boy Tate won his maiden here five years ago. Since then, he has four seconds and a third in five stakes at Saratoga, including a second in last year’s Morrissey to Foolish Ghost.
Listentoyourheart and Reggae Music Man complete the field.
Union Avenue lacks standout
The last time Eloquent Speaker ran in a New York-bred stakes, she was beaten a neck by Bank Sting in the La Verdad in January. Shortly thereafter she was put through the sales ring, bought by Gary Barber, and been conditioned by two other trainers.
Now back with trainer Natalia Lynch and back with statebreds, Eloquent Speaker could upset the $125,000 Union Avenue for New York-bred fillies at six furlongs.
Eloquent Speaker is coming out of a seventh-place finish in tough open-company second-level allowance here July 20. Lynch, remembering some success Eloquent Speaker had with blinkers two years ago, is putting that equipment back on for this race.
“I’m just hoping to pick her head up,” Lynch said. “She’s breezes really good in them.”
Tyler Gaffalione has the call.
Bank On Anna, Chasing Cara, Mashnee Girl, and Secret Love should all appreciate getting back into statebred company.