Super-claim Banishing stays busy in Jeff Hall Memorial
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North America’s busiest millionaire racehorse takes his act to Ellis Park on Sunday, when Banishing starts as the favorite in the $150,000 Jeff Hall Memorial Stakes.
Lawrence Roman and David Jacobson, Banishing’s trainer, bought Banishing at auction for $80,000 in July 2024, and have they ever gotten their money’s worth, both in quality and quantity. During the year since his purchase, Banishing has made a dozen starts. He has earned almost $900,000 during 2025 alone and has made more than a million for these connections.
Banishing has proven as versatile as he has been successful. He finished second, nearly six lengths ahead of the accomplished route horse Skippylongstocking, racing 1 1/8 miles in the Oaklawn Handicap. And in May, he was second in a loaded renewal of the Grade 1 Churchill Downs, narrowly beaten by Mindframe, subsequent winner of the Grade 1 Stephen Foster, while just ahead of the mighty Nysos in that seven-furlong contest.
Banishing’s lone step back in a seven-start campaign this year came May 31, when he was fifth in the Blame Stakes. Back in action June 29, Banishing, normally a closer in shorter races, was forced to show speed from his rail draw, dueled speedy Saudi Crown into submission, and in a closers-dominated one-turn mile managed to hold on for a close second.
Jacobson cuts the horse back to 6 1/2 furlongs in the Jeff Hall, but that ought not matter. In December and January, Banishing scored powerhouse victories in six-furlong stakes at Oaklawn. The lone point of concern for bettors interested in taking a price likely lower than Banishing’s morning-line 2-1 is the very fact he’s in this race. Banishing’s Beyer Speed Figures have fallen from his winter and early-spring peak, and rather than take a shot at larger purses in New York, Jacobson is willing to settle for a smaller pot.
Eleven were entered but no more than 10 will run, with Nash racing on Saturday at Saratoga.
Jacobson has a second entrant, Durante, a lesser win threat in his own right. Durante posted a 33-1 upset May 31 in the Aristides at Churchill and validated that performance June 28 in the Kelly’s Landing, finishing a close third. The concern is distance: Durante has best suited in races between 5 1/2 and six furlongs.
Trainer Steve Asmussen also entered two and said both Ryvit and Booth will start. Asmussen attempted to get Ryvit into a Horseshoe Indianapolis allowance race that failed to fill, and hopes to get Booth back on track after a fading fourth-place finish in the Kelly’s Landing. Booth came to that start on a four-race winning streak, sweeping three sprint stakes at Oaklawn and landing the Maryland Sprint at Pimlico. In the Kelly’s Landing, Booth made the lead – and, as usual, will try for it again Sunday, his trainer said – but with no apparent excuse had no fight from the eighth pole home.
Booth won’t make a comfortable lead Sunday with Champlin drawn on the far outside. Champlin, a very fast horse, made his turf debut June 7 in the Mighty Beau at Churchill and ran decently closing for fifth after starting slowly and failing to show his customary speed. As with Durante, the concern is distance. Champlin has excelled up to six furlongs and was a fading fourth trying 6 1/2 furlongs in the 2024 Hall Memorial.
Here Mi Song won the 2024 Hall Memorial but has completely lost his form this season. Banjo Chris, listed at an implausible 30-1 on the morning line, rates an upset chance.
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