Doc Sullivan, Bank Frenzy clash again in $125K Alex M. Robb

The pair of multiple stakes-winners Doc Sullivan and Bank Frenzy will renew their rivalry in the $125,000 Alex M. Robb, a one-turn mile for New York-bred 3-year-olds and up, on Friday, December 26, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Tristar Farm’s Doc Sullivan and LSU Stables’ Bank Frenzy will face each other for the fifth time, with the score currently tied at 2-2. Bank Frenzy was a nose winner of this event last year over his familiar foe and a neck winner over him again in the nine-furlong Empire Classic in October here, while Doc Sullivan took a pair of seven-furlong events in the John Morrissey in July at Saratoga Race Course and the NYSSS Thunder Rumble last out on November 22. Bank Frenzy finished a respective fifth and third in those events.

Trained by John Ortiz, Doc Sullivan can add to an impressive recent run of form for his conditioner, who is 6-for-11 at the Aqueduct fall meet after he kept a string of horses at Belmont Park this winter. Ortiz plans to remain in the Empire State year-round, thanks in great part to the addition of several horses owned by Glenn Lostritto’s Tristar Farm, who also owns recent NYSSS Fifth Avenue-winner Braverthanubelieve.

“We’ve been very blessed in New York and with having a new client in Mr. Lostritto in the barn,” Ortiz said. “He’s very knowledgeable about the game and I love the trust he’s invested in us and this opportunity for us in New York. We’re looking to expand more in New York eventually, so hopefully this is the beginning of something great and wonderful to come, especially with Belmont Park getting ready to open next year. Hopefully, more doors can open.”

Doc Sullivan, a 4-year-old son of Solomini, was entered in the Grade 2 Cigar Mile Handicap on December 6 here, but scratched in favor of this spot. The dark bay enters from a 5 1/2-length romp in the seven-furlong NYSSS Thunder Rumble division on November 22. There, he pressed the pace set by Dr. Kraft through the first half-mile in 45.79 seconds over the fast footing. He angled out seven-wide into the stretch and took the lead at the three-sixteenth pole before drawing off strongly through the lane to score in a final time of 1:22.31. He was awarded a 96 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“He came out of his race in great shape,” Ortiz said. “I think he’s a very versatile horse and you can put him at any distance, especially that last race cutting back from the mile and an eighth. He looked like he was sharper and was way more forward. He has not missed a beat, as usual, and he’s a barn favorite. We love him to death, we are excited to get him back out there and we’re looking for a repeat performance.”

Bred by Seamus Coughlan, Doc Sullivan finished a game fourth in two graded tilts earlier this year ahead of a return to state-bred company in the Empire Classic. He notched an additional pair of state-bred stakes wins at Saratoga Race Course in last year’s Mike Lee and the aforementioned John Morrissey on July 31, where he made his first start for Ortiz after transferring from the Michael Miceli barn. He has banked $657,840 through a 19-6-6-2 record.

Ortiz said a positive change in attitude has helped Doc Sullivan reach his full potential this year.

“I do this because I love the horses, and we gave him a lot of TLC. He came around in his attitude and he’s just one of the boys now,” Ortiz said. “He and my brother [and assistant trainer] Daniel get along really well and we just love to see how he’s changed since he came into the barn. He’s a very high-spirited horse, and he’s learned to channel that more on the racetrack than in the barn.”

Ricardo Santana, Jr. has the call from post 4.

Bank Frenzy [post 2, Manny Franco], making his first start for conditioner Miguel Clement, will return to the one mile distance, which he holds a 10-6-2-0 record over. Last out in the Thunder Rumble, he stalked in third throughout and failed to threaten while finishing seven lengths behind Doc Sullivan. Both of his starts at less than one mile this year resulted in distant finishes.

The 5-year-old Central Banker gelding, who was bred by Chester and Mary Broman, looks to defend his title in this event after winning last year’s edition by a nose over Doc Sullivan when trained by Rudy Rodriguez. Since then, the consistent chestnut has added another four stakes wins to his ledger, including against open company in the Listed Stymie over course and distance in March.

Boasting a 21-10-5-1 record and $854,420 in total purse earnings, Bank Frenzy looks to further his success over Doc Sullivan at distances beyond sprinting, with his wins over his familiar rival coming at one mile and nine-furlongs, respectively.

David Staudacher and Paradise Farms Corp.’s Grade 1-placed The Wine Steward [post 1, Jose Lezcano] gets back to state-bred company following a flat sixth in the six-furlong Thanksgiving Classic on November 27 at Fair Grounds Race Course.

The 4-year-old son of Vino Rosso’s last win came in the 6 1/2-furlong Hudson against state-breds on October 25 here, scoring by 2 1/4 lengths over Vettriano with a stalk-and-pounce trip engineered by Ricardo Santana, Jr. He finished a head second to Doc Sullivan in the John Morrissey when cutting back to sprinting after making seven consecutive starts at a route of ground, including a win against open company in the Listed Fifth Season in January at Oaklawn Park.

As a juvenile, The Wine Steward won his first three starts, including the Listed Bashford Manor and state-bred Funny Cide, ahead of a pair of a trio of graded seconds, landing a half-length back of subsequent multiple Grade 1-winner Locked in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland and posting three-quarter-length defeats as a sophomore in the Grade 3 Lexington and Grade 3 Peter Pan.

Bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds, Lakland Farm and Mark Toothaker, The Wine Steward has banked $747,010 through a 14-5-4-1 record, including an additional grading placing when third in the Grade 3 Oaklawn Mile in March.

Completing the field are dual graded stakes-placed General Banker [post 3, Ruben Silvera] for trainer Jimmy Ferraro; the stakes-placed pair of Locke and Key [post 7, Sahin Civaci] for trainer Jim Ryerson and Share the Ludt [post 6, Chris Elliott] for trainer Melanie Giddings; and six-time winner Quick to Accuse [post 5, Julio Hernandez] for trainer Panagiotis Synnefias.

The Alex M. Robb is slated as Race 9-of-10 on the Friday, December 26 card. First post is 11:40 a.m. Eastern.

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