Bankit and Jose Lezcano, winners of Sunday’s Thunder Rumble division of the NYSS. Joe Labozzetta/NYRA Photo.

Bankit returned to the form that landed him a stakes victory in August and a championship last year with his seventh stakes victory in Sunday’s $121,250 Thunder Rumble division of the New York Stallion Series Sunday at Aqueduct.

Bankit also bounced back from a defeat to Somelikeithotbrown in the off-the-turf West Point Stakes in late August at Saratoga, defeating that foe by 3 1/4 lengths with 2021 champion New York-bred male sprinter My Boy Tate another 3 1/4 lengths back in third. Jose Lezcano rode the 6-year-old son of leading New York sire Central Banker to victory for trainer Steve Asmussen.

“He’s a nice horse,” Lezcano said of last year’s New York-bred champion older dirt male. “I’ve ridden him about three or four times and every time I’ve ridden him, he’s given me a good effort.”

Bankit turned in another good one Sunday and picked up an additional $68,750 toward his already seven-figure bankroll. The leading earner for leading New York sire Central Banker, Bankit came out of the Thunder Rumble with career earnings of $1,258,405 from a record of 8-11-5 in 36 starts.

Toby Sheets, Asmussen’s year-round assistant in New York, has been around the 6-year-old for several seasons when he’s been at Belmont Park and knows what it takes for Bankit to deliver his usual top effort.

“He’s been doing phenomenal,” Sheets said. “He loves it here and he loves Belmont and loves the track there. He’s just been doing really well. I know his little ins and outs and he looks like a summer horse today – he had a glow about him.”

Sent off as the 2-1 third choice in the field of five behind 7-5 favorite My Boy Tate and 8-5 second pick Somelikeithotbrown, Bankit broke on top but Lezcano was content to let Somelikeithotbrown take the lead up the backstretch. Somelikeithotbrown, a 6-length winner over Bankit in the West Point, led through opening splits of :23.13 and :46.29 with Bankit just to his outside. Chowda and My Boy Tate raced as a team behind those two.

Bankit poked a head in front just past the half-mile mark and turned for home in front. He opened up a 2-length lead in midstretch and widened from there, winning in 1:23.24 over the muddy and drying out main track. Bankit added the Thunder Rumble to his victory in the Evan Shipman Stakes in August at Saratoga this season.

“He broke pretty well,” Lezcano said. “Other times, I feel like he’s a better horse when he’s on the outside. He broke pretty clear and put him right there and when I asked him, he kicked on and won the race. He had no one outside of him, so he felt more confident. He jumped into the bridle right away and when I asked him, he went on with it.”

Bred by Hidden Brook Farm LLC and Blue Devil Racing and foaled at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs, Bankit is campaigned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing. He’s the first foal out of the Colonel John mare Sister in Arms and originally sold out of the Hidden Brook consignment to SGV Thoroughbreds for $85,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.

Bankit was purchased by Winchell Thoroughbreds for $260,000 at the 2018 OBS March sale of selected 2-year-olds in training sale.

Central Banker, a 12-year-old Grade 2-winning son of Speightstown, will stand the 2023 season for $7,500 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds. He was well clear on the New York general sire list – which he also topped in 2021 after a runner-up in 2020 – with progeny earnings of more than $4.68 million heading into Sunday.

Reserved apron seating at Belmont Park. Susie Raisher photo.

NYTB Members:

We are happy to report admission protocols for the remainder of the Belmont Park Spring/Summer meet have been updated.

Beginning with the live racing week starting on Thursday, June 17, current NYTB Members will have access to free admission at Belmont Park by showing your 2021 NYTB membership pin or card in the ticket/passes lanes at admission gates.

To renew your NYTB membership to take advantage of this and other membership benefits, please visit www.nytbreeders.org/membership.

The Belmont Park facility is able to accommodate the admittance of vaccinated and unvaccinated guests following social distancing guidelines. However, unvaccinated guests will be required to wear a face at all times except when actively eating or drinking.

Should you wish to request free reserved seating for the remainder of the Belmont spring/summer meet, we ask that you contact the NYRA Box Office at least 48 hours in advance of your visit by calling 844-NYRA-TIX or emailing boxoffice@nyrainc.com.

For more information outlining required health and safety protocols for entry to Belmont Park please visit here.

If you have any questions, please contact the NYTB Membership services team at 518.587.0777 or info@nytbreeders.org.

By Janelle Huggard

For more than a decade, Bob Nevins, Melody Squier and Janelle Huggard have been working together to successfully reveal the power of a horse-to-human interaction by providing transformative equine experiences for Veterans living with the effects of trauma. Now, the crew has launched Alliance180, and they have expanded their support to reach First Responders and Frontline Healthcare Workers while incorporating science-based research that will set them apart.

For years, there have been increasing studies that demonstrate the negative effect that trauma can have on the autonomic nervous system. Because of a new collaboration with Alliance180, Dr. Stephen Porges, a Behavioral Neuroscientist*, and his colleagues from Indiana University, the team will now be able to successfully document and validate the effectiveness of their equine experience by incorporating and applying evidence of the Polyvagal Theory.

Bob Nevins said, “We know the effects of trauma can cause a person to feel detached and closed off. The experience through our interaction and training at A180 provides our participants with an opportunity to turn things around—’do a 180’ so to speak—so they can overcome their trauma in a way they haven’t tried before.”

Melody Squier, Alliance180’s Co-Founder, has understood the positive effects horses have on humans, especially those experiencing trauma, for more than 30 years. When she joined forces with Nevins, the two were able to combine their relevant experience and passion for helping others, impacting more than 800 veterans through their past efforts.

The purpose-driven programming of Alliance180 (A180) provides an effective three-day experience through peer-to-peer interaction, private accommodations, and classroom training to learn the language of the horse, and a round-pen interaction with the horse as the culminating event. Through the lens of the horse, participants learn to communicate with another powerful but very different species, most often resulting in the emotional response being reawakened, leading to a heightened awareness and offering a renewed perspective and brighter outlook.

Melody Squier, Program Creator and Facilitator of Equine Engagement, said, “Horses require you to be in the moment to fully communicate. The release felt when the horse accepts your offer to bond—breathing, touching and following—is so empowering. There is no judgement, only acceptance.”

Activities and classes will take place at the farm belonging to Song Hill Thoroughbreds LLC, and James and Tina Bond and Family. The Bonds said they are happy to be “teaming up” with A180’s experienced staff and are glad to offer access to their horses and facility for the organization’s crucial programming.

Nevins said he is grateful for the unwavering support that has followed he and Melody throughout the years from people who really believe in their methodology and dedication to the mission. The program is provided at no cost to participants and relies on support from donors and benefactors.

Nevins said, “Melody’s extensive knowledge as an equine specialist and a First Responder, combined with my understanding and experience as a Veteran, is something that greatly enhances our Program. Now that we have the research component to show what we are doing really works, we look forward to offering a solution to help our participants take their lives in a new direction.”

For more information on Alliance180, its Programming or to become a Benefactor, please visit Alliance180.org or call 518-415-0206.

*Founding Director, Kinsey Institute Traumatic Stress Research Consortium