On Sunday at Aqueduct, the featured race is the 36th running of the $100,000 Damon Runyon Stakes. Restricted to two-year-olds foaled in New York, the mile and seventy yard race has drawn a full field of twelve colts and geldings.
The undefeated Regal Minister has been installed as the morning line favorite at odds of 5-2 for trainer Mark Hennig. A chestnut son of Posse, the juvenile colt is a perfect two for two. After breaking his maiden at Belmont, he followed that up with a front-running score in the Notebook Stakes over seven rivals. He will be stretching out to two turns for the first time and has been training steadily since his last win. Manuel Franco will be aboard from post position two.
Chad Brown will send out the second choice, Saint Joseph, at morning line odds of 3-1. Bred and owned in partnership by Joseph Bucci and Joseph Riccelli, the bay colt is trying winners for the first time after breaking his maiden in his third career start. He defeated a field of eight rivals as the favorite after finishing eighth and fourth in his prior two starts. Irad Ortiz, Jr., his regular rider, will remain aboard and they will break from post three.
Also in the field at morning line odds of 5-1 is Good Luck Gus for trainer Rudy Rodriguez. A bay colt from the first crop of multiple champion Lookin at Lucky, he was purchased for $97,000 as a yearling. He broke his maiden in his second career start and will be trying to earn his second career stakes victory. Three starts back, he won the New York Breeders’ Futurity at Finger Lakes. Ruben Silvera will be aboard for the first time from the outside post.
The Grade 2 $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby features the two biggest names from the Triple Crown trail September 24 at Parx as a field of 12 gathers in one of the most intriguing betting races of the year.
The $1 million Cotillion Stakes September 24 at Parx features a true clash of the titans as the six-horse field is headlined by the undefeated, five-time grade 1 winner Songbird who figures to face the most stern challenge of her career.
In a completely wide open renewal of the Presque Isle Mile September 18 at Presque Isle Downs, 13 runners including the also-eligible will contest the eight furlong trip over synthetic footing.
Champion Songbird is set to make her much-anticipated return to the races in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on Saturday. The Grade 2 event will be run at a mile and a sixteenth and has attracted a field of seven.
Pennsylvania Derby Picks and Preview
23 September 2016The Grade 2 $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby features the two biggest names from the Triple Crown trail September 24 at Parx as a field of 12 gathers in one of the most intriguing betting races of the year....
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