Gazelle in the plans for Behrnik's Bank

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – When last seen in New York, Behrnik’s Bank suffered her first defeat, losing a neck decision to Frosty Margarita in a division of the New York Stallion Stakes last December at Aqueduct.

Behrnik’s Bank has returned to New York seeking redemption. Exactly where she will seek it remains a question.

Though Saturday’s $125,000 Cicada Stakes at six furlongs would seem like a logical spot for the speedy daughter of Bank Heist, Behrnik’s Bank could skip that race and point to the Grade 2, $300,000 Gazelle, a 1 1/8-mile race over the main track April 9. It is also possible that she could run in both, according to Peter Kazamias, the owner, trainer, and breeder of Behrnik’s Bank.

“Most likely, we’re going into the Gazelle,” Kazamias said Sunday. “I want to stretch her out, although the distance may be longer than I want to try first time back, but that’s what I’m pointing to.”

Behrnik’s Bank won the first two starts of her career by a combined 31 1/2 lengths last November at Penn National. Though she’s a Pennsylvania-bred, her sire, Bank Heist, is based in New York, which made her eligible for the Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes. Sent off as the 1-5 favorite, Behrnik’s Bank couldn’t shake Frosty Margarita early and was outfinished by that rival late.

Kazamias was somewhat critical of jockey Jose Ortiz after the race, believing Ortiz should have tried to open up the race more early. Edwin Gonzalez, who rode Behrnik’s Bank in her first two starts, will ride Behrnik’s Bank again in whichever race she runs, Kazamias said. Gonzalez was in New York Thursday to work Behrnik’s Bank, who went four furlongs in 47.01 seconds over the inner track.

While Kazamias said his goal is the Gazelle, he is leaving open the possibility of using the Cicada as a tune-up.

“I’m not taking it completely off the board,” Kazamias said.

Among the horses pointing to the Cicada is Constellation, the 10-length winner of the Ruthless Stakes here on Jan. 17.

Another sprinting type who will try to stretch out in the Gazelle is Clipthecouponannie, a Todd Pletcher-trained, Mike Repole-owned daughter of Uncle Mo who is 3 for 3, with all of her races coming at six furlongs or shorter.

“I have always been impressed by the way the filly trained for her entire career,” Pletcher said. “I always told Mike based on the way she breezes and gallops out, I always felt like she’d stretch out.”

Pletcher is also expected to run Busher Stakes winner Mo d’Amour in the Gazelle. Lewis Bay, the winner of the Grade 2 Demoiselle last fall, is back in New York and targeting the Gazelle for trainer Chad Brown.