In addition to racking up victories at Aqueduct Racetrack, Bank Frenzy has won races at Tampa Bay Downs and Saratoga Race Course—overall effectiveness that collectively made him the 2024 champion New York-bred older dirt male.
But the 5-year-old chestnut Central Banker gelding has a particular affinity for the Big A, a point on display Oct. 25 when he won $250,000 Empire Classic Stakes during the Belmont at the Big A meet. His neck victory over Doc Sullivan improved his local record to 7-3-0 in 11 starts. All of his Aqueduct starts have been on its main track.
One of his four Aqueduct losses came in the 2024 Empire Classic, but he made amends Saturday. He pushed the pace, took over in the lane and gamely turned back an inside bid from runner-up Doc Sullivan. Whittington Park ran third.
"My horse likes to wait when he makes the front, but I knew that he had more under him and when (Doc Sullivan) engaged him to the inside, he gave me the effort that he has," winning rider Manny Franco said.
Bank Frenzy raced 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:50.08, paying $6.32 to win. Rudy Rodriguez trains him for LSU Stables.
New York's leading sire from 2021-24, Central Banker is currently second among New York stallions by progeny earnings in 2025. He stood this past breeding season at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds for $7,500. His fee for 2026 has not yet been announced.
Favorites won the first four stakes contested Saturday at Aqueduct:
- Bravaro ($3.56), a 2-year-old son of Upstart , rallied to catch Max Money in winning the Sleepy Hollow Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths under Dylan Davis. Saffie Joseph Jr. trains the colt, who is now unbeaten in two starts for owners Albert Ciuffetelli, Stephanie Brennan, Shining Stables, BAG Racing Stables, and Paul Braverman.
- David Staudacher and Paradise Farms' The Wine Steward captured the Hudson Stakes, a 6 1/2-furlong contest for 3-year-olds and up. The Mike Maker-trained son of Vino Rosso paid $4.52 for a $2 win wager.
- Roger Cimbora Jr.'s Twenty Six Black ($4.98) closed under Joel Rosario to take the New York Turf Sprint Championship Stakes. The Horacio De Paz trainee zipped 6 furlongs on turf in 1:08.20.
- Rosario added another stakes victory on Letmecounttheways ($2.92), who dominated the Maid of the Mist Stakes for 2-year-old fillies by 6 lengths. Maker also trains this Yaupon filly for Staudacher and Paradise Farms, who campaign her with JP Racing Stable and Zilla Racing Stables.
In other New York-bred stakes action:
- The Tony Dutrow-trained Slapintheface ($15.44) defeated Itsallcomintogetha by a half-length in the Mohawk Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the turf under Franco. The Oscar Performance gelding races for Niall Brennan.
- Davis scored his second stakes win on the afternoon with Pavillion Racing's Valtellina in the $250,00 Empire Distaff Stakes, the co-richest card on the Saturday program. Besides the Empire Distaff and Empire Classic, all the other Saturday stakes were worth $200,000 apiece. The Ray Handal-trained Valtellina, a daughter of Complexity , returned $10.94 to win.
- Junior Alvarado piloted the Bill Mott-trained Sterling Silver ($6) to capture the Iroquois Stakes, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares. Mark Anderson campaigns the 6-year-old gray and/or roan daughter of Cupid .
- Santana was able to split horses in the stretch on Awesome Czech ($4.98), and his mount outkicked Gallant Greta to capture the Ticonderoga Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for fillies and mares. De Paz conditions Awesome Czech, a Mendelssohn filly, for owner Barry Schwartz.
