Nyala Farm’s Banrock doesn’t like to be rushed. The 5-year-old gelded son of 1994 Kentucky Derby winner Go for Gin will deliver a strong late kick as long as you are patient.

Sunday afternoon, Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux rode Banrock to perfection and came away with a head victory over favored Dave in the 20th running of the $113,700 Kingston Handicap for New York-breds at a mile and a sixteenth on the Widener Turf Course.

“He’s one tough hombre isn’t he?,” said winning trainer Tom Bush, as Banrock came through before a Mothers’ Day crowd of 7,695. “All we could say to Desormeaux was that this horse wants to move late, so wait as long as you can. That’s just what he did.”

Banrock, who has now won five of 18 career starts, was making only his second start of the season. After wintering in South Carolina, he returned to Aqueduct with a rallying third on April 23, his first start since November 24.

“We ran him back a little close today, and I was worried about that,” Bush said. “But he came off that last race so fresh we decided to try it. Now, we’ll give him plenty of time before his next start.”

Desormeaux, who won Saturday’s Grade 2 Peter Pan with Belmont Stakes-bound Casino Drive, settled his mount back, while Retribution and Hammock kept vying for the lead. As those two battled through fractions of 24.37; 48.13, 1:11.78 and 1:36.25, on the yielding course, Desormeaux and jockey Eibar Coa, aboard favored Dave, were having a battle of their own.

“It was exciting out there on the first turn,” Desormeaux said. “I was trying to shuffle Eibar back, but he said, `No way.’ When we hit the wire, I said, `You should’ve let me.’ (Actually) I shouldn’t have even tried that. Dave made the perfect target. It was a good stretch run. My horse had to find another gear in the final 70 yards.”

Banrock returned $21.40, and became another winner for red-hot Desormeaux, who won the Kentucky Derby with Big Brown on May 3 and who will ride that one on Saturday in the Preakness.

“I’m excited to be back in New York,” Desormeaux said, “and happy to ride for Mr. Bush again.”

Spurred rallied to be third, followed by Retribution, Stud Muffin, Classic Pack, Mission Approved, 2007 Kingston winner Red Zipper, North Country and Hammock.