Banrock Set for West Point
Banrock continues to do well as he approaches next Thursday’s West Point Handicap, a 1 1/8th –mile turf race for New York-breds that he will be attempting to win for the third straight year.
On Monday, the 7-year-old gelding went five furlongs in 1:01.90, handily, over the Oklahoma Turf Course in company with allowance runner Ouchy Night.
“He does well here. He likes the atmosphere here. We are always happy to bring him up here,” trainer Tom Bush said. “We put a little company with him. He was a little aggressive. We wanted to make sure he was tuned up. He’s coming into the race the right way. I think we’re in good shape. I don’t know how you win a race three times, but we’re going to try.”
Banrock, who has won 3 of 6 career starts at Saratoga, narrowly missed winning the Battlefield Stakes at Monmouth Park in his last start. Of 12 career wins, Banrock has won 11 against New York-breds and in 2009 completed a sweep of all four major turf stakes on the NYRA circuit for statebred horses.
Bush also noted this morning that Get Stormy, winner of the Grade 2 Fourstardave Handicap 11 days ago, is a possible candidate for the Grade 2, $200,000 Bernard Baruch for turf horses running 1 1/8th miles on August 27, and that Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap winner You and I Forever, who rallied from last to third in the James Marvin Stakes on Saratoga’s Opening Day, is a possibility for the Grade 1, $250,000 Forego at seven furlongs on September 4.