Central Banker has claimed four straight titles as New York’s leading general sire. As he eyes a fifth, his statebred champion Bank Frenzy will be one of his runners on Wednesday’s New York-bred showcase card at Saratoga – less than 20 minutes from McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, where the stallion reigns at stud.
Grade 2 winner Central Banker was recognized as New York’s stallion of the year at the state’s annual awards dinner in May. On the same night, Bank Frenzy was voted champion older dirt male of 2024 and John McMahon was recognized as the state’s farm manager of the year.
Bank Frenzy won the Evan Shipman Handicap for New York-breds last August at Saratoga, in his first start after being privately purchased by LSU Stables and turned over to trainer Rudy Rodriguez. He did not finish worse than second the rest of his campaign, including a win in the Alex M. Robb and a runner-up effort in the Empire Classic.
“People said we overpaid for him, that we were crazy,” LSU’s Randy Sarf said in his acceptance speech. “But I’ve learned in life that it’s never about what something costs, it’s about what it gives you. And this horse has given us joy, hope, magic, and memories I’ll hold for the rest of my life.”
To begin this year, Bank Frenzy won the Stymie against open company, the Haynesfield over statebreds; and was fourth in the Grade 3 Westchester, beaten a head for third.
Returning to New York-bred company for Wednesday’s $200,000 Commentator Stakes, his foes include multiple graded stakes-placed General Banker, who was second to him in the Haynesfield, completing an exacta for their sire.
Strong finishes by both of these veterans would give Central Banker a nice boost as he pursues his fifth straight sire title. The stallion leads New York resident stallions with state-sired foals by earnings through May 30. Atop the earnings list, regardless of progeny conception area, is former Florida resident Bucchero, whose first New York-bred foals will not race until 2027.
Half-sisters in stakes
Half-sisters Bernieandtherose and Bernietakescharge race in stakes on Wednesday’s New York-bred showcase card at Saratoga for owner-breeders Robert D. Rosenthal and Bradford Bernstein, and trainer Domenick Schettino.
Bernieandtherose, by Accelerate, runs in the $200,000 Bouwerie for 3-year-old fillies, while Bernietakescharge, by Take Charge Indy, runs in the $200,000 Critical Eye for fillies and mares. Both are out of the Freud mare Berning Rose.
“They’re pretty much alike in the barn,” Schettino said. “They’re easy to be around. Personality-wise, they’re pretty much the same. They have different running styles, though.”
Bernietakescharge, who earned three stakes placings in 2024, broke through with an open-company stakes win in the Heavenly Prize Invitational in February.
“Bernietakescharge seems to want to be more in the race from the beginning, on the lead or near the lead, that’s what she wants to do,” Schettino said. “She doesn’t have to be exactly on the lead, but she sits right there.”
Bernieandtherose has won four of five lifetime starts, including the East View and Maddie May.
“The other filly’s versatile,” Schettino said. “She can be on the lead, she can sit off the pace. She likes to chase horses. So that’s the difference and the similarity.”
Berning Rose raced as a homebred for Rosenthal and Bernstein, winning the Maid of the Mist Stakes at 2. She is the dam of three winners from as many starters.
In Spite of Mama has two runners
In Spite of Mama, who was honored as New York’s broodmare of the year at May’s statebred awards dinner, will have a pair of runners on Wednesday, Mama’s Gold and Willful Mama.
In Spite of Mama, a Speightstown mare who won three of 17 starts, had a big year keyed by millionaire My Mane Squeeze. She won four stakes in 2024, including the Grade 2 Eight Belles and Grade 3 Dogwood at Churchill Downs and was third in the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga.
My Mane Squeeze was voted New York-bred horse of the year, champion 3-year-old filly, and champion female sprinter. Her half-brother Rotknee was named champion male sprinter after winning three stakes in 2024, increasing his total to seven.
In Spite of Mama had a third stakes winner last year as Mama’s Gold won the Empire Classic.
Overall, In Spite of Mama is the dam of four winners from five starters, including multiple stakes-placed Lookin for Trouble.
On Wednesday, Mama’s Gold runs in the $200,000 Commentator Stakes. Her younger half-sister Willful Mama runs in a maiden special weight while looking to make In Spite of Mama a perfect 5 for 5 as a broodmare.
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