Central Banker Progeny Pay Off in Dec. 12 Stakes

Progeny of Central Banker  paid dividends across the country Dec. 12, with the 10-year-old siring five winners, including Bankit and Niko's Dream in stakes.

Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's Bankit, a 4-year-old colt, took the Alex M. Robb Stakes for New York-breds at Aqueduct Racetrack. Sackatoga's Stable's Niko's Dream, a 4-year-old filly, notched her first stakes score in the My Charmer Stakes in open company at Gulfstream Park.

What a day for @McMahonSaratoga's Central Banker! Winner Bankit was parading before the Robb just as Niko's Dream was rallying in @GulfstreamPark's My Charmer. Both are from the #NYsire's 1st crop. Recap of the Peros-bred filly's win for @sackatogastable: https://t.co/obIKAuP9CE pic.twitter.com/hW0YurslML

— NYTB (@nytbreeders) December 13, 2020

The victories pushed their earnings to $816,675 and $280,900, respectively, and left Central Banker as New York's second-leading sire this year behind Big Brown . Central Banker's offspring have made $2,481,311, just off Big Brown's pace of $2,641,051.

The sixth-leading third-crop sire in North America, Central Banker stands at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in New York. His fee in 2021 will be $6,000.

"This horse has really proven to be a nice kind of a horse," said Joe McMahon, who founded McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds with his wife, Anne. "He gets useful runners. They're sound, good temperaments. Trainers like them because they like to train and they're sound."

Central Banker's progeny are proving versatile, just as he was as a racehorse. He won stakes on dirt and turf, taking the 2014 Churchill Downs Stakes (G2)—a seven-furlong dirt race that has since been elevated to grade 1 status—and the Smirnoff Sorbet Quick Call Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Saratoga Race Course in 2013. He raced for trainer Al Stall Jr. and owners Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence.

Although Central Banker was a sprinter, Bankit and Niko's Dream showed the staying power to capture routes Saturday. Bankit won at 1 1/8 miles and Niko's Dream at 1 1/16 miles on grass.

Niko's Dream was raised at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds for breeder Nick Peros before joining Sackatoga Stable and trainer Barclay Tagg.

Bankit was a popular sales horse, bought by Winchell Thoroughbreds for $260,000 at the 2018 Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale from the SGV Thoroughbreds consignment.

"He's an attractive horse, and his babies have sold well, even out of ordinary mares," McMahon said of Central Banker. "For a regional stallion, he's done a lot."

The Alex M. Robb was Bankit's third stakes victory for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. During his juvenile year, he was a 5 3/4-length winner of the Sleepy Hollow Stakes at Belmont Park. At 3, he took the New York Derby at Finger Lakes. He was winless in 11 starts this year before Saturday, though he placed in open-company stakes, including the Feb. 17 Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park.

"He's been running in some pretty tough company from time to time and always seems to show up and bring home a check," said David Fiske, Winchell Thoroughbreds' racing and bloodstock manager. "He's a durable, consistent horse. He always seems to show up, no matter who you run him against."

Bankit and Niko's Dream are from Central Banker's first crop. He was fourth behind Cross Traffic , Goldencents , and Cairo Prince  among 2018's freshman sires.

Other stakes winners for Central Banker this year include Collegeville Girl, the winner of the Iroquois Stakes Oct. 24 at Belmont, and Newly Minted, who won the Union Avenue Handicap at Saratoga Aug. 13.