And sitting on a win he was!  Night Rider Stables’ Banana Boy had seen his fair share of bad luck in the 2015 racing year, but he turned it all around this afternoon with a nice closing effort and a one length win in the CC Emerald at GP.  The final time for the mile and a sixteenth turf event was 1:39².  Brennan On The Moor was second and Ritual rounded out the $304.30 trifecta.    

The field of eight loaded well and were away from the gate with Ritual breaking alertly.  Apollo Creed next to that one, Another Mambo from the rail, then Le Grand Inquisiteur along side that one.  Banana Boy  was next, Brennan On The Moor, then the two outside horses, Mist Over Pandora and Speed Zone under wraps early.

The field made their way around the clubhouse turn and onto the back stretch, five and a half furlongs to run and Ritual was showing the way by a length and a half.  Apollo Creed still giving chase, Another Mambo saving ground in third, then a length back to Banana Boy, two more back to the trio of Speed Zone three wide, Le Grand Inquisiteur on the rail and Brennan On the Moor between that pair.  Mist Over Pandora was the trailer, seven lengths from the front end.

Now nearing the far turn and just three and a half furlongs to run, Ritual had skipped off to lead by two and a half lengths.  Another Mambo still clinging to the rail, Banana Boy three wide and Apollo Creed between that pair.  Another two back to Brennan On The Moor, Le Grand Inquisiteur to his inside, and Speed Zone to the outside, then back to Mist Over Pandora, still at the back and now eight lengths from the leader.

Around the far turn, to the top of the lane, the field was nearing the furlong marker and things had changed!  Ritual had the lead but it was down to a quarter length as Banana Boy was flying.  A gap of two back to Another Mambo, Le Grand Inquisiteur next to that one and Brennan On the Moor now four wide and had found running room.  Speed Zone widest of all, Apollo Creed was knocked out and Mist Over Pandora needed to find something if he wanted to be any parts of this one, still eight lengths from the leader.

Inside the final 150-yards and to the finish, this was all about Banana Boy as he had kicked clear and went under the wire in front by a comfortable length.  Brennan On The Moor made a nice late bid to grab the second spot, with pace setter Ritual tiring a bit late to be third.  Le Grand Inquisiteur was fourth, Another Mambo in fifth, Speed Zone sixth, Mist Over Pandora seventh and Apollo Creed closed this one out.

Banana Boy is a 5yo bay gelding by Machiavellian Boy – Anna Banana, by Easy Speed, and he was bred in Cal by Running Farms.  Acquired by Night Rider Stables via the claim box for $10.500 back in Jan of 2014, this was his eighth win from twenty-seven starts and he now shows $367.840 in earnings.

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Firm        Time: :23²  :46⁴  1:10   1:39²
$1 Exacta: 3 – 6 Paid 75.30        $1 Trifecta: 3 – 6 – 5 Paid 304.30
Scratched: None

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES