
Regal Minister Puts Undefeated Streak on the Line in $100,000 Damon Runyon
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.
Saint Joseph making stakes debut
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.
Good Luck Gus trying to earn second stakes win
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.
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