Heading into Friday’s Grade 2, $1 million Charles Town Classic much of the attention was justifiably focused on two-time defending champion Skippylongstocking, who was bidding to become the race’s first three-time winner.

But it was Banishing who delivered an emphatic triumph that had his connections already considering much bigger events on the horizon.

Sent out as the 5-2 second choice – Skippylongstocking was off as the 2-1 favorite — Banishing rallied to win by 2 ¼ lengths while Skippylongstocking, who led early through seemingly manageable fractions, faded to eighth and last.

Running time for the nine furlongs, contested around three turns, was a sluggish 1:53.26 despite the track’s being rated as fast.

Under jockey Tyler Gaffalione, Banishing was reserved well off the pace through the far turn as Skippylongstocking contended with Komorebino Omoide and Trademark passing the grandstand the first time, with Awesome Aaron just behind that group. Skippylongstocking led by a half-length after a half-mile in 47.97 seconds.

But by six furlongs in 1:13.51, Komorebino Omoide had put his head in front as Skippylongstocking offered little resistance and weakened considerably.

But Banishing would soon make his presence known with a bold, sweeping move entering the far turn. Banishing opened a clear lead on the far turn then held safe Willy D’s for the decisive score. Gould’s Gold was another three lengths back in third.

“Drawing from the one hole, we wanted to get him going early, trying to establish some position,” jockey Tyler Gaffalione said. “He broke well, but they were going pretty quick up front so I just kind of put my hands down. He settled great for me. We turned up the backside and I just kind of put him out in the clear. I didn’t want to get in the way with the short stretch run, so I just kind of let him go. And he just kept finding. Coming into the stretch he got a little bit green. He saw the gate and was looking at that a bit, but I gave him a couple of reminders and he finished the job.”

Now a winner four times in nine starts during a busy campaign, Banishing has nine wins and nearly $1.9 million in earnings from 23 lifetime outings. He paid $7.40 to win and topped an exacta, with 9-2 Willy D’s in second, that returned $24.20 on a one-dollar wager.

Banishing nearly earned a Grade 1 win earlier this year when he finished second, a neck behind Mindframe, in a frantic finish in the Churchill Downs Stakes May 3. He could soon find himself back in the highest company, his connections said, perhaps as soon as the August 31, Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga.

“This horse has faced the best horses in the country all year,” co-owner Lawrence Roman said. “We’re not going to back away from anyone. This horse gets no respect. He’s been right there with Mindframe [in the Grade I Churchill Downs] and he’s faced all the best horses in training. Right now we want to go up for the Jockey Club Gold Cup and then we’re going to the Breeders’ Cup and we’re not going in the Sprint or the Mile. We’re going in the $7 million Classic.”

Trainer David Jacobson, who also co-owns the horse with Roman, echoed those sentiments.

“He’s been racing well all year and this looked like the ideal spot for him,” Jacobson said. “I haven’t run too many horses here over the years, but that could change. This track has not been playing to speed all night, so when he made his move down the backside I knew he was going to win it. That was just a tremendous move. We’ll see how he comes out of this race, but we definitely are considering the Jockey Club Gold Cup and then from there the Breeders’ Cup Classic. But there are plenty of spots for him between now and then.”