Bankit Gets the Money in Alex M. Robb Stakes
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Bankit wins the Alex M. Robb Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
Bankit posted a slew of close efforts in the 17 months since his previous win. But the 4-year-old son of Central Banker left no doubt Dec. 12 in the $100,000 Alex M. Robb Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack, where he overtook Mr. Buff at the top of the stretch en route to a 4 3/4-length victory.
Chasing his first win in 14 starts in the 1 1/8-mile event for New York-breds, the Steve Asmussen trainee came off a third-place finish in the Nov. 22 New York Stallion Stakes Series Thunder Rumble Stakes for Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing. He landed his first score since the 2019 New York Derby at Finger Lakes.
Jockey Jose Lezcano settled Bankit in fourth as Sea Foam led the six-horse field through the opening quarter in :24.16 and a half-mile in :48.47, with two-time Alex M. Robb winner Mr. Buff pressing the pace in second. Tipped out approaching the far turn, Bankit moved up to third and then found an extra gear on the outside after straightening away for home. He easily overtook Sea Foam before running eye-to-eye and then passing 6-5 favorite Mr. Buff.
The final time was 1:51.59 on a fast track.
"I watched a couple replays, and it looked like sometimes he hangs a little bit," Lezcano said. "Today, he broke well and I had him behind the two horses I thought we had to beat. When I asked him, he gave me everything he got."
The winner returned $7.70 for a $2 bet, improving his earnings to $816,675 with a 4-8-4 record from 26 starts.
"He had a nice pace set up, and Jose put him in a good spot. He got good position and ran a good race," said Toby Sheets, assistant to Asmussen.
Chester and Mary Broman's Mr. Buff, wheeled back a week after running fifth in the Cigar Mile Handicap (G1), broke a bit slowly and came up short in his bid for three consecutive Alex M. Robb victories but ran three lengths clear of Yankee Division for second.
Sea Foam, Danny California, and City Man, who broke through the gate before being reloaded, completed the order of finish.
"My horse broke bad because the horse inside (City Man) acted up a little and broke through the gate," said Mr. Buff's jockey, Kendrick Carmouche. "He got a little fussy in there and broke a step slow, but I got him to where I wanted to have him in the race. He ran hard. He tried his best. I think if he hadn't ran seven days ago, it would be a different outcome, but congratulations to the winner."
Bred by Hidden Brook Farm and Blue Devil Racing, Bankit was a $260,000 purchase by Winchell Thoroughbreds at the 2018 Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale from the SGV Thoroughbreds consignment. He is the lone stakes winner out of the Colonel John mare Sister in Arms. Her other foals to race are Clifton Park (by Awesome Again), a winner of $28,384, and 2-year-old Aunt Mary (by Animal Kingdom), who is unplaced in four starts this year. The mare also has a Good Magic weanling colt.