Banrock, Latitude Forty win at Saratoga

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - At 0 for 17, Tom Bush entered Sunday's West Point Handicap having the dubious distinction of being the trainer with the most starters at this year's Saratoga meet without a win.

He no longer holds that title.

Banrock continued his ascension up the New York-bred male turf ranks with an impressive-looking two-length victory in the $111,000 West Point, his third win from four starts this year. Classic Pack, who won this race last year, rallied from last to get up for second by a nose over My Man Lars.

Under Kent Desormeaux, Banrock raced a close-up third albeit four wide while Mission Approved set the pace, pressed by Extra Zip. Banrock launched his move around the far turn, took command in upper stretch and came home strongly with only mild encouragement from Desormeaux. Barnock, a 5-year-old gelded son of Go for Gin, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.41 over soft outer turf and returned $7.80 as the second choice.

Earlier on the card, in the $107,500 Yaddo Handicap for New York-bred fillies and mares, Latitude Forty ran past pacesetting Factual Contender in upper stretch and then held off a late bid from You Go West Girl to win the Yaddo by a neck. Last year, Latitude Forty caught Factual Contender in the final strides to win the Yaddo by a nose.

You Go West Girl finished 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Rewrite, the 3-2 favorite who caught Factual Contender by a head for third.

Latitude Forty, a 5-year-old daughter of Chester House, had not won in five starts since her 2007 Yaddo win which came at odds of 23-1 in a 10-horse field. Sunday, she defeated four rivals at 4-1 and returned $10 after covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:55.16 over yielding turf.

Latitude Forty is owned by Dee Zee Stable and trained by John Hertler.