HOT SPRINGS, AR – Heavily favored Banishing cruised to a front-running 7 ½-length victory in the inaugural $145,000 Byerley Turk Overnight Stakes Thursday afternoon at Oaklawn.

Eight-time Oaklawn riding champion Ricardo Santana Jr. rode Banishing ($3.60) for trainer David Jacobson, who owns the 5-year-old Ghostzapper gelding with Lawrence P. Roman. The Byerley Turk was a six-furlong event for older horses that had never won a stakes race.

Osbourne finished second, a length ahead of third-place finisher Wendelssohn, who was followed, in order, by Gold Luck, Booth and Of a Revolution. Attache, Major Blue and Nasty Habit were scratched. 

Banishing, who was making his stakes debut, ran six furlongs over a fast track in 1:10.66. Banishing dueled with Wendelssohn and Booth through an opening quarter in :22.10 before edging away late on the turn.

Banishing, who ran a half-mile in :45.76, was two lengths clear in midstretch and widened his advantage to the wire under a hand ride. 

Banishing (4-5) gave Jacobson his first career Oaklawn stakes victory. A veteran of the New York Racing Association circuit, Jacobson has a greatly expanded presence this season at Oaklawn. 

The Byerley Turk marked the Banishing’s third consecutive victory and fourth in six starts since Roman purchased the gelding for $80,000 at Fasig-Tipton’s July Horses of Racing Age Sale.

Overall, Banishing has a 6-1-2 record from 15 starts and earnings of $408,804.

BYERLEY TURK QUOTES

Winning jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. (Banishing): “He came out his last race nice. We were really happy with him. Today, he did the same thing. I was happy when he broke on the lead. He was going easily at the end. He was much the best today.”

Winning co-owner/trainer David Jacobson (Banishing): “He ran some race today, three-quarters, and, I mean, we haven’t even stretched him out. We’re afraid to see what he’s going to do going long, with that natural speed that he’s got. The jockey (Ricardo Santana Jr.), you could just see it. He was just sitting. Those other horses were right on him and just put them away.”