Taking it to the ‘Bank’

Saturday, Churchill Downs 
CHURCHILL DOWNS S.-GII, $464,800, CDX, 5-3, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:21, ft. 
1–@CENTRAL BANKER, 118, c, 4, by Speightstown 
     1st Dam: Rhum (MSW, $306,234), by Go for Gin 
     2nd Dam: Merion Miss, by Halo 
     3rd Dam: Curlew, by Storm Bird 
($200,000 yrl ’11 KEESEP). O-Klaravich Stables Inc 
& William H Lawrence; B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY); 
T-Albert M Stall Jr; J-Corey S Nakatani. $270,886. 
Lifetime Record: MGISP, 12-4-3-2, $590,786. *1/2 
to Gantry (Pulpit), GSW, $816,531. Click for the 
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: 
A+. 
2–Shakin It Up, 123, c, 4, Midnight Lute–Silver Bullet 
   Moon, by Vindication. O-Dennis A Cardoza, & 
   Michael E Pegram; B-Michael E Pegram (KY); T-Bob 
   Baffert. $87,382. 
3–Clearly Now, 118, c, 4, Horse Greeley–Bend, by 
   Arch. ($30,000 yrl ’11 KEESEP). O-Up Hill Stable; 
   B-Claiborne Farm (KY); T-Brian A Lynch. $43,691. 
Margins: HD, 1 3/4, 1HF. Odds: 10.80, 4.50, 4.90. 
Also Ran: Broadway Empire, Delaunay, Capo Bastone, Sahara Sky, Laugh Track, Quiet Force, Falling Sky, River Bear. 
Click for the brisnet.com chart, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO. 
   Fifth to 2013 GI Kentucky Derby also-ran Goldencents (Into Mischief) in the GIII Delta Jackpot S. in the fall of 2012, Central Banker missed the first half of 2013, but kicked his season off in high style with a 3 3/4-length victory in the Quick Call S. sprinting over the Saratoga turf course July 25. Far from disgraced when third behind Capo Bastone (Street Boss) in the GI King’s Bishop S. over the main track Aug. 24, the bay was a disappointing fourth as the favorite in a third-level allowance over the Keeneland Polytrack Oct. 4. The well-bred bay gave an outstanding account of himself when the neck runner-up to his half-brother Gantry (Pulpit)–both sons of Rhum (Go For Gin)–in the Nov. 28 Thanksgiving H. at the Fair Grounds ahead of a close second to Shakin It Up in the GI Malibu S. at Santa Anita Dec. 26. Central Banker was likely in need of the run when sixth in the GI Carter H. Apr. 5 and was duly let go at double digits here. Central Banker broke alertly and was in the early mix along with defending champion Delaunay (Smoke Glacken) who held a narrow advantage from Falling Sky (Lion Heart). Riding for the first time, Corey Nakatani got after Central Banker after an opening half in :44.69 and advanced to challenge for the lead, but Shakin It Up and Mike Smith were rolling and made it a line of three at the head of the lane. Delaunay was first to call it a day, leaving the two Malibu runners to settle the score, and while Shakin It Up had dead aim the length of the stretch, Central Banker refused to let him by and proved gamest in the finish. Clearly Now, sluggish away from the stalls, swept wide on the turn and loomed a late threat, but flattened a bit and settled for third. “[Trainer] Al [Stall Jr.] said to warm him up anyway I wanted and that he’s a horse I could do anything with so I said, ‘OK, let’s go get the money,’” Nakatani offered. “When the horse Mike [Smith] was on came at him, he re-broke and was all racehorse from there. He made me look good.”