Sassy Agnes First Black-Type Winner for Central Banker

Freshman sire Central Banker  was represented by his first black-type winner when his daughter Sassy Agnes took the Sept. 8 Lady Finger Stakes at Finger Lakes.

The six-furlong race for New York-bred 2-year-old fillies was the third start for Sassy Agnes, who broke her maiden in what was also her stakes debut. The filly had placed seventh and second, respectively, in Saratoga Race Course maiden special weight races.

Trained by Linda Rice for Beach Haven Thoroughbreds, Sassy Agnes vied for the lead out of the gate in the Lady Finger, kept pressure on Shesasuperfreak until near the quarter pole, then drew clear to finish three-quarters of a length in front of the fast-closing Ma Meatloaf. The final time over the fast track was 1:12.94.

Bred by Klaravich Stables, Sassy Agnes is the first foal out of the Stormy Atlantic  mare Bullish Sentiment.

Central Banker, who raced for Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence, won the 2014 Churchill Downs Stakes (G2) by a head over grade 1 winner Shakin It Up . The previous year, the son of Speightstown  finished a half-length behind Shakin It Up to be runner-up in the Malibu Stakes (G1). He retired with a record of 4-3-2 from 13 starts and $598,786 in earnings.

Central Banker also sired Bankit, who finished second in the Aug. 24 Funny Cide Stakes at Saratoga. Standing at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in New York, Central Banker's 2018 fee was $7,500.