Jun 26, 2022
NYRA Photo
Bank Sting gets the money in $100K Dancin Renee
by Keith McCalmont
Hidden Brook Farm, Joseph McMahon and Anne McMahon’s Bank Sting drew off to a 5 1/2-length score in Sunday’s $100,000 Dancin Renee, a six-furlong sprint for older New York-bred fillies and mares at Belmont Park.
Trained by John Terranova and expertly handled by Joel Rosario, the 5-year-old Central Banker bay broke alertly from post 5 and secured a stalking position outside the pacesetting The Important One through an opening quarter-mile in 22.50 seconds over the fast main track.
Time Limit and Kept Waiting settled in behind Bank Sting, who continued to stalk the Jose Lezcano-piloted The Important One as the half-mile elapsed in 45.85. Rosario gave Bank Sting her cue approaching the quarter-pole and she pounced to the lead, surging clear for a decisive score in 1:10.82. The Important One stayed on strong to complete the exacta by 1 1/2-lengths over Kept Waiting.
Secret Love, Snicket, Time Limit, Miss Jimmy and Letmetakethiscall rounded out the order of finish. Chasing Cara and Queen Arella were scratched.
Bank Sting, now a five-time stakes winner, entered from a game runner-up finish to Grade 1-placed Make Mischief in the Critical Eye Handicap on May 30 here. With Rosario in the irons for the first time that day, Bank Sting tracked from fifth position before making a late run to finish four lengths in arrears.
Terranova said a clean break and good early position were key in victory.
“She’s a bit antsy at times in the gate, but she was very good today,” Terranova said. “You never know what you’re going to get race-to-race with her. She has her little fits, but you just have to go with her. You can’t fight with her. Joel got to know her really well last time and they get along great – as everyone that’s ridden her has.”
Rosario said he benefitted from his experience last out aboard Bank Sting.
“She broke really well and she put herself more in the race today than last time. She was happy up there,” Rosario said. “Last time, she broke and everyone got away and she had a lot of dirt in her face the first furlong.
“Today, it helped her that she was more in the race and in the clear,” he added. “I learned a little bit last time and now I know a little better for the next one.”
Terranova said Bank Sting’s next start will likely come in the $125,000 Johnstone Mile for state-bred fillies and mares 3-and-up, which will be contested out of the new Wilson Chute on August 12 at Saratoga Race Course.
“There’s good spacing in between, so that’s next on our radar,” Terranova said.
Bred in the Empire State by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, Bank Sting banked $55,000 in victory while improving her record to 12-8-1-0. She returned $3.60 for a $2 win wager.
Live racing resumes Thursday at Belmont Park with a nine-race card. First post is 3:05 p.m. Eastern.
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