Shoplifted works five furlongs, points to Carter Handicap

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Shoplifted, a multiple graded stakes-placed runner on this circuit, will try again for that elusive graded victory when he runs in the Grade 1, $300,000 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct on April 3.

Runner-up in the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga in 2019 and third in both the Woody Stephens at Belmont and H. Allen Jerkens at Saratoga, Shoplifted will make his first start at Aqueduct in the Carter.

Shoplifted is coming out of a solid second-place finish in an allowance race at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 6. Shoplifted was a wide-rallying second behind Special Reserve. That horse came back to win another allowance race on Saturday at Oaklawn, earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 94.

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On Sunday, at Belmont Park, Shoplifted worked five furlongs in 1:02.22, which was the fastest of nine works at that distance.

“He likes it here, he’s doing good here,” said Toby Sheets, the Belmont Park-based assistant for trainer Steve Asmussen. “It was just his first five-eighths back. He’s doing good.”

Also breezing Sunday for the barn was Bankit, a winner of two straight stakes who is pointing to next Sunday’s $100,000 Haynesfield for New York-breds.

Bankit went a half-mile in 51.28 seconds.

Bankit is coming off victories in the Alex M. Robb here Dec. 12 and the John B. Campbell at Laurel on Feb. 20.