Bank Frenzy skips through the mud to the win. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)
By Keith McCalmont
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – LSU Stables’ Bank Frenzy rallied powerfully up the rail to capture Sunday’s $125,000 Evan Shipman, a one-mile handicap for New York-breds 3-years-old and up contested out of the Wilson Chute, at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Rudy Rodriguez and piloted to victory by Flavien Prat, the 4-year-old Central Banker chestnut was a private purchase following a frontrunning romp traveling a one-turn mile on May 26 at Belmont at the Big A.
Bank Frenzy’s score provided LSU Stables their second Spa win following a claiming score here last summer with Relate.
“This means a lot to us as a family,” said LSU Stables’ Randy Sarf. “We have been coming here since 1991 and this is the first time that my Mom, Dad and I have had the opportunity to be here and take a picture together in the winner’s circle. I think we won a race here once, but I don’t know if I was here. This just means a lot to family; this horse is a nice horse.”
Sheriff Bianco broke alertly from the inside post but Luis Saez hustled Maker’s Candy to the lead out of post 4 to set splits of 24.57 seconds and 48.25 over the muddy main track with post-time favorite Donegal Surges tracking in second position in front of Sheriff Bianco.
Maker’s Candy led into the final turn as Donegal Surges backpedaled and Cicciobello launched his wide bid under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano while Prat asked Bank Frenzy, who was pinched back between rivals at the start, for his best run.
Sheriff Bianco tested a game and determined Maker’s Candy as the field straightened away, but it was Bank Frenzy who caught the eye with a ground-saving surge at the furlong marker as he drew away inside the final sixteenth to score by 1 1/4-lengths in a final time of 1:37.27. Maker’s Candy held place honors by a neck over Sheriff Bianco with Cicciobello, Whittington Park and Donegal Surges rounding out the order of finish.
Originally slated for Friday, August 9, the Evan Shipman was canceled and re-drawn after the entire card was canceled due to heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Debby.
“I’ve got to give all the credit to [the owners], they bought the horse and gave me the opportunity to train the horse,” Rodriguez said. “We were trying to run him back at Belmont [at the Big A], but he got a little sick on us. They’ve been very patient with the horse, and we’ve been very patient to get the race [to] go but thank God they used the race. It’s a nice horse. He knows how to win, and he showed it. He’s a good horse.”
Prat said he had planned to be more forward with Bank Frenzy, who was making just his second stakes appearance after a runner-up effort in the NYSSS Times Square last April for his former conditioner Lisa Lewis.
“I was hoping to get a clean break and get myself going but was just not quick enough so from there I went to ‘plan B’,” Prat said. “I kept him outside for the most part. Once I got down the backside, he took a bit of dirt but felt comfortable. It felt like I was able to drop in and he made a nice rally from there.”
Rodriguez agreed with his rider, noting there were a few anxious moments at the break for Bank Frenzy, who carried 118 pounds to victory.
“I was concerned when he broke and they squeezed him pretty good out of the gate, but he showed us he doesn’t need the lead,” Rodriguez said. “Between the three [eighths] and the quarter pole, he looked like he was coming. I was confident that he was able to come and close. They went pretty fast in the third quarter, so he was patient, he was nice and clear.”
Bred by Chester and Mary Broman, Bank Frenzy banked $68,750 in victory, while improving his record to 10-4-3-0. He returned $10.80 for a $2 win bet. Bank Frenzy is out of the Tiznow mare Storm Now, while his third dam is Grade 1-winner City Band.
Live racing resumes Wednesday at Saratoga with a nine-race card featuring the $135,000 John’s Call in Race 3. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.
