Ernie Banker makes stakes debut in Highland Ice
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Ernie Banker is an accomplished New York-bred as a 12-time winner who has earned more than $300,000. But there’s one thing missing from his résumé – a stakes win – and he’s traveled to Oklahoma to attempt to secure one Tuesday in the $50,000 Highland Ice at Will Rogers Downs.
The six furlong race is for 3-year-olds and up and has drawn an eclectic mix of horses. The field of six includes Mollies Rocket, a multiple stakes-winning Iowa-bred who is launching his season, and Chipofftheoldblock, a top Indiana-bred runner with earnings of more than $500,000. Dame Plata, a Minnesota-bred, won last year’s Highland Ice, while Mesa Moon is a stakes stalwart bred in Oklahoma. The field is completed by Canadian Pride, a Kentucky-bred who has been working at Oaklawn after being based in Southern California.
But the horse to beat is Ernie Banker, who invades from his new base of Texas to make his stakes debut in the Highland Ice. He is seeking his fourth consecutive win. Ernie Banker began his streak in February, when he won a $15,000 starter allowance over seven furlongs at Sam Houston with a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 96. Ernie Banker proceeded to capture a conditioned allowance over six furlongs Feb. 20 at Sam Houston and another $15,000 starter allowance at the track in his most recent start March 31. The latter race was over seven furlongs, and the last time he backed up from that distance to six furlongs he came from off the pace.
Ernie Banker will break from the rail. Obed Sanchez has the mount for owner Farmers Fillies Racing and trainer J.R. Caldwell.
Ernie Banker is a 6-year-old by Central Banker who started his career in New York in 2020. He was claimed in a move that brought him to Oaklawn in Arkansas and, later, Texas. Ernie Banker, who in this region has changed hands several times through the claim box, is making his first start at Will Rogers.
Chipofftheoldblock won an allowance over multiple stakes winner Shannon C on March 7 at Will Rogers. Chipofftheoldblock has made one start since, finishing fifth to Southern California invader Straight No Chaser in a two-other-than allowance April 1 at Oaklawn. Richard Eramia has the mount from post 2 for trainer Mike Lauer.
Mollies Rocket is making his first start since October. He owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure, a 92. Alex Birzer has the mount from post 5 for trainer Tom Wellington.
Canadian Pride hooked an eventual Grade 3 winner last out in Tejano Twist, who was to have run Saturday at Oaklawn in the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap
Track addresses tote outage
Will Rogers released the following statement on a tote system outage the track experienced April 10:
“On Monday, April 10, at 2:39 p.m., Will Rogers Downs experienced a regional tote system outage, which prevented the stewards from closing wagering. To protect the race from any potential past-post wagering, the wagers for Will Rogers Downs Race 2 were refunded and the following live event was delayed until the tote provider restored systems. The 25-minute outage is being investigated by the provider.”
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