Popular veterans Bankit and City Man each prevailed by a narrow margin May 29 under jockey Joel Rosario on a special 10-race, all state-bred card that featured six high-caliber stakes to celebrate the best of New York racing for Memorial Day's annual Big Apple Showcase Day at Belmont Park.
The patiently handled City Man ($3.40) rallied stoutly to nail Jerry the Nipper for a nose score in the $125,000 Kingston Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for older horses.
Trained by Christophe Clement for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Searles, and Patty Searles, the multiple graded stakes-winning 6-year-old son of Mucho Macho Man won for the 10th time in his career and bagged his ninth stakes victory.
"He seems to be getting a big fan base in New York and he's run so consistent here, and he brings it every time," said co-owner Dean Reeves.
City Man saved ground in sixth as Rinaldi led through splits of :24.13 and :47.70 over the firm footing. Jerry the Nipper got the jump on his rivals late in the turn and took command in midstretch as City Man waited for racing room. Jerry the Nipper looked to be home and cooled out, but a relentless City Man would not be denied the win, making up ground with every stride once clear to stop the clock in 1:39.46.
Dakota Gold kicked in late to finish a half-length back in third.
"He's a fun horse who wins a lot, I like it," Clement said. "He always finishes well. Joel did his job. I train, he rides."
Bankit Hangs On in Commentator
Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's multiple graded stakes-placed millionaire Bankit ($12.20) outlasted a resurgent Olympic Dreams to score by a diminishing head in a thrilling renewal of the $200,000 Commentator Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds and up.
Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the 7-year-old Central Banker bay notched his first win of the year with a stirring stretch drive to earn $110,000 and raise his career total above $1.4 million.
Sea Foam surged to the lead from the outermost post 12, with Sheriff Bianco and Olympic Dreams tracking him through a quarter-mile in :22.88 over the fast main track as Bankit bided his time in fourth. Bankit made his move late in the turn and traveled past Sheriff Bianco, angling outside the pacesetters to take command at the stretch call and establish a clear lead. Inside the final furlong, Sheriff Bianco came off the rail in search of racing room and launched his wide bid, while Olympic Dreams came alive late to create a three-horse plunge to the wire. But Bankit, who won this race by 13 1/4 lengths in 2021, prevailed over Olympic Dreams in 1:43.01.
"As soon as he took the lead, he waited on horses a little bit," Rosario said. "Then I just had to keep riding and hopefully he would get ahead of them. That's the way he runs, I guess. It set up good and I had to ride him a little bit—engage him a little and keep him in the race so he didn't pack himself in there. I got a good trip and was able to come out and he went on. It looked like we were home and going to win by a couple (lengths), but he likes to just wait a lot when he passes the last horse."
Downtown Mischief Wins Bouwerie for 3-Year-Old Fillies
The stakes action kicked off in the day's opening race as Lady Sheila Stable's Downtown Mischief ($4.40) broke alertly under Jose Lezcano and posted a gate-to-wire score, staving off a stubborn Miracle to take the $125,000 Bouwerie Stakes, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies.
Trained by Linda Rice, the homebred daughter of Into Mischief won by one length in a final time of 1:23.98.
Odds-On Classy Edition Scores in Critical Eye
Robert and Lawana Low's graded-stakes winner Classy Edition ($3.40) stumbled after the start but was quickly in hand for jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. en route to a stalking score in the $200,000 Critical Eye, a 1 1/16-mile test for fillies and mares.
Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the 4-year-old Classic Empire filly was clear by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:42.82.
Maker's Candy Takes Mike Lee Stakes
Maker's Candy ($6) dug in gamely down the lane under Jose Ortiz, putting away pacesetter Looms Boldly before turning back the charge of Radio Red in the $125,000 Mike Lee Stakes, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds. Trained by Mike Maker for Paradise Farms Corp., David Staudacher, Maxis Stable, and John Huber, the son of Twirling Candy won by 2 1/2 lengths and stopped the timer in 1:23.35.
Late Surge Lifts Marvelous Maude
Marvelous Maude ($5.10), with Irad Ortiz up, arrived in the final jumps to nose out Runaway Rumour and win her seasonal debut with a picture-perfect finish in the $125,000 Mount Vernon Stakes, a mile Widener turf test for older fillies and mares. Trained by Chad Brown for Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, and Michael J. Caruso, the 5-year-old Slumber mare notched her first stakes win by nose in 1:34.08.
