Ernie Banker seeks first stakes win in Highland Ice
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Horses representing a variety of statebred programs will face off Tuesday in a redrawn edition of the $50,000 Highland Ice Sakes at Will Rogers Downs. The race was canceled last week due to an issue with a small area of the track surface. The Highland Ice again drew six runners, led by the accomplished New York-bred sprinter Ernie Banker.
Ernie Banker is 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 figures to go favored when he attempts to nail one down in the Highland Ice.
Ernie Banker’s rivals in the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up include Chipofftheoldblock, a top Indiana-bred runner with earnings of more than $500,000; Dame Plata, a Minnesota-bred who won last year’s Highland Ice; and Tommyhawk and Mesa Moon, stakes stalwarts bred in Oklahoma. The field also includes Canadian Pride, a Kentucky-bred who has been working at Oaklawn Park after being based in Southern California.
Ernie Banker 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, who originally drew the rail, will now break from post 2. 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 shipper Straight No Chaser in a two-other-than allowance April 1 at Oaklawn. Richard Eramia has the mount from post 3 for trainer Mike Lauer.
Canadian Pride hooked an eventual Grade 3 winner last out in Tejano Twist, who returned last Saturday to run second in the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn. Kylee Jordan has the mount on Canadian Pride for trainer Robertino Diodoro.
Will Rogers had to cancel racing last week because a small area of the track became “contaminated” due to a tractor fire, according to a statement from the track.
The Highland Ice is scheduled as the ninth race on a 10-race program that begins at 1 p.m. Central.
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