Fair Grounds notes: Central Banker might be best at seven furlongs
Central Banker has looked like a useful horse since partway through his 2-year-old campaign in 2012, but he has recently begun to look like something more than that, following up a good closing second to Gantry in the Thanksgiving Handicap at Fair Grounds with an even better second Dec. 26 at Santa Anita in the Grade 1 Malibu for 3-year-olds.
Central Banker, trained by Al Stall for Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence, earned a career-best 105 Beyer Speed Figure finishing second by a half-length to Shakin It Up while beating nine other rivals in the seven-furlong Malibu. And his performance might have been even better than it looked. Central Banker, making an early move from midpack into a scorching pace, was in second place at the stretch call, while the horses that finished first, third, and fourth were fifth, eighth, and ninth in midstretch.
“We’re figuring out that maybe he’s a seven-furlong horse,” said Stall.
With that in mind, Central Banker’s connections have circled the Grade 1, $500,000 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct as a major early-season goal for 2014. Stall said that Central Banker could prep for the Carter in the Duncan Kenner Stakes on March 8 at Fair Grounds.
Central Banker, currently stabled with Richard Mandella at Santa Anita, is due back at Fair Grounds on Jan. 6, and Stall is looking forward to a good year with the colt, a son of Speightstown.
“He’s a great-looking horse, very balanced and attractive. Everything fits in the right spots, and he’ll run through a brick wall. He’s just a tough horse,” Stall said.
Meanwhile, Stall said Monday he plans to breeze the exciting prospect Unknown Road either Tuesday or Wednesday, the colt’s first workout since an 11 3/4-length second-out maiden win on Dec. 19 at Fair Grounds. Unknown Road, a Bernardini colt who is a half-brother to Banshee Breeze, has yet to try two turns, but will get the chance in his next start, which Stall hopes will be a first-level allowance race scheduled for Jan. 24.
“He’s got class, this horse,” said Stall. “He’s just been galloping smooth and easy.”