A field of seven New York breds line up in Sunday’s Damon Runyon at Aqueduct. (© Cheryl Quigley | Dreamstime.com).
New York breds take center stage at Aqueduct on Sunday with a field of seven led by Bourbon Bay in the $100,000 Damon Runyon going seven furlongs on the main track.
Trained by Mark Hennig, the son of Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Bayern was the beaten favorite in the state bred Gander in his last outing, checking in third behind Chowda, who he faces again this afternoon.
Scilly Cay also exits the Gander where he was a disappointing fourth. He won the state bred Rego Park in his previous outing for trainer Linda Rice.
“I think that as far as the mile goes, we didn’t really learn anything in that race,” Rice said. “They set a very slow pace and things didn’t unfold in our favor. Jose Lezcano is back on him, so he should be forwardly placed and we’re hoping for a better result.”
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2020 Gander Replay
Horse racing again is the only sport still in action after the Coronavirus crisis shutdown the NHL, NBA, MLB and NASCAR as well as March Madness.
Racing will be nationally televised on FS2 from 3:00 to 6:30 ET on Sunday. Aqueduct and Oaklawn Park will be the featured racetracks.
Let’s head out to Aqueduct for Sunday’s featured race of the day:
Aqueduct Race 8 The Damon Runyon (Post time 5:01 ET)
3 Bourbon Bay 3-1
4 Scilly Cay 7-2
1 Dream Bigger 3-1
5 Chowda 5-1
Bourbon Bay
The Mark Hennig trainee was the beaten chalk in the state bred Gander last out, beaten 4 1/4 lengths by Chowda in a third-place finish. The colt tracked the early pace, was down toward the inside on the far turn and finished with some interest late. That outing was at a mile and he reportedly missed some time with a bruised foot. He ran well two back in the Jerome in a deadheat for the runner up spot, which was his first start against winners at a mile. He graduated three back at six furlongs over a wet track. The Hennig barn is 20% winners moving runners form route to sprint. Looks as if seven panels may suit him.
Scilly Cay
This colt also exits the Gander where the colt stalked the early pace and weakened inside the final furlong in a fourth-place finish. He won the state bred Rego Park two back at 6 1/2 furlongs and was a good second in the state bred Notebook three back at six furlongs. The colt reunites with Lezcano who was aboard for both of his wins. Rice is 19% winners moving runners from route to sprint.
Dream Bigger
The colt dueled for the early lead and weakened to finish third in the Rego Park last out as the chalk behind Scilly Cay. It was his first outing where he did not land in the exacta. He won the state bred Notebook three back and just missed in a New York Stallion Series race two back at seven furlongs. The RRod trainee draws the rail and owns the edge in early and mid pace numbers. He returns off a two month break here with a good breeze over rat Belmont Park on Mar. 8. The colt will be the one to catch here.
