by Rich Fisher, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Rich Fisher

Trenton, NJ — Kevin Lakomy is a horse owner and a baseball fan, and this summer the Chicago resident is enjoying the best of both those worlds.

Lakomy and his father, Dennis, are part of a group that owns Banker Volo, who will compete in the first of two Stanley Dancer Memorial divisions at the Meadowlands this Saturday (July 14). After not racing as a 2-year-old, the Erv Miller-trained colt has won all four of his starts this year.

It is a result about as expected as the standings in the American League Central Division.

“We are pleasantly surprised,” Lakomy said, adding with pride, “Just like we are about our Chicago White Sox.”

Whether the horse or the first-place Sox have staying power remains to be seen, but Banker Volo will get what Lakomy feels is his acid test in the Dancer. He is eligible for the Hambletonian and this week is a measuring stick because it is his first try in stakes competition.

Banker Volo, owned by the Lakomys’ Mystical Marker Farms with Peggy Hood and Mary Jane Anderson, will start from post seven in a seven-horse field that includes, from the rail, Vic Smith, Uncle Peter, From Above, Appomattox, Dandover, and Big Chocolate. Jim Morrill, Jr. is listed to drive.

“This is a big start for him,” Lakomy said. “We have to see how well he is. We’ll see what happens at the Stanley Dancer and make the next move after that.

“We want a solid performance. We want him to be right there at the wire, make a move.”

As for the Hambletonian eliminations, which are July 28 at the Meadowlands, Lakomy said, “I think that’s where he’s headed, but we’ll see what happens here.”

The Lakomys have found the Dancer to be one of their more profitable races, having won with Dreamaster in 2000 and Classic Photo in 2005 while Manofmanymissions captured his division last year (the event went to a divisional format in 2009).

Classic Photo was second in the Hambletonian in 2005 and Manofmanymissions finished eighth last year when he went off stride in the stretch while challenging for the lead.

“We usually do well in the Stanley Dancer and a few starts later everything goes awry,” Lakomy said. “We’ve done well in Hambo eliminations and then when it comes to Hambo Day different things have happened or transpired.”

But the Lakomys and Miller are looking no further than the Dancer at the moment. In fact, it might be good to keep the Lakomy kids as clean as possible for as long as possible on Saturday.

“We’re definitely excited,” Lakomy said. “I’ve already told my wife how we’re gonna plan our bath schedule. We’re planning the (kids’) baths based on post time.

“We’re just excited to be back in the Stanley Dancer. You always get excited to race in the major races at the Meadowlands; that’s what you shoot for when you buy them as yearlings.”

Banker Volo, a son of Yankee Glide out of the mare Bank Of Newport, was purchased for $85,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale in 2010. His family includes stakes-winners Almost An Angel and Fluttering Wings, who as broodmares also produced stakes-winners; Almost An Angel with Al Dente Hanover and Michelle’s Angel and Fluttering Wings with For A Dancer.

“Erv liked the breeding,” Lakomy said. “We liked Yankee Glide and liked his mother. We usually go on the breeding and conformation with Erv.”

As for Banker Volo missing last season, Lakomy said, “He wasn’t ready yet. We knew he had some talent but as a 2-year-old he just wasn’t going to make it.”

He has looked more than ready this year with a 4-0 record. Banker Volo won his debut at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in 1:56.3 and has seen his time drop with every triumph. In his most recent start, on July 4 at Pocono, he won by 7-1/4 lengths in 1:52.3.

“When he won the first one, we’re like ‘Well, let’s see what we have here,’” Lakomy said. “Erv said he was going to be a decent one. I saw him in Florida over Thanksgiving but you can’t really tell anything that early.

“After the second one, we said ‘Wow, that was pretty good.’ Two starts ago he really came off the pace and looked pretty strong in the stretch.”

Although not around the horse as often as Miller, Lakomy says from what he has seen, there is a difference in personality between Banker Volo and last year’s Hambletonian qualifier for the connections.

“Manofmanymissions was a different bird,” Lakomy said. “You didn’t know what he was thinking about or what you were gonna get with him.

“Banker Volo seems predictable so far. I just watched him train and he seems to mind his manners, from what I’ve been told.”

And while the Lakomys and Miller saw potential in Banker Volo, Kevin wasn’t about to say they predicted a Hambletonian appearance.

“If I said yes I’d probably be lying, you can never tell with these guys,” he said. “He’s bred well, we kept making the payments. He trained down decently but you never know.

“They all train down well in winter but when you get those first two starts, reality sets in. You keep your fingers crossed.”

Lakomy has the fingers on both hands working this summer.

The fingers on one are for Banker Volo. The fingers on the other, of course, are for the White Sox.