by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Banks, a 5-year-old German trotter, won in impressive style Sunday afternoon (June 15) at Bahrenfeld, Hamburg, in 1:52.3f, the fastet time ever in a trotting race in Germany.

Banks, who had his trainer, Michael Larsen, in the bike, left the gate very fast and was in command the whole trip. He won very easily and lowered the track record which had been 1:55.1f.

Banks is a 5-year-old gelding sired by the German-bred winner of the Prix d’Amerique, Abano AS. He has only raced 14 times, but has 11 wins under his belt.

Banks beat I’m The Answer (sired by Angus Hall), driven by Joachim Lövgren, by 5-1/2 lengths.