# Damon Runyon Stakes

The Damon Runyon Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race operated by the New York Racing Association (NYRA) at its Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, Queens. First run in 1979, the annual event is currently contested on dirt over a distance of 7 furlongs. Restricted to horses bred in New York State, it was usually run in the late fall or early winter and open for two-year-olds only until 2020. With no race in 2019, those two-year-olds who turned three in 2020 competed when it was run on March 15.
One of a series of NYRA races for New York-bred horses, it is an important part of maintaining the significant breeding industry in that state.
The race is named for Damon Runyon, a famous sports reporter and short story writer who created a Broadway all his own during the Twenties and Thirties. From these stories came the musical Guys and Dolls. Runyon loved horse racing and campaigned a small string of his own horses.

## Historical notes

The Damon Runyon Stakes was raced on the turf course in 1990, 1991 and 1993. It was hosted by the NYRA's Belmont Park in 1979 and again in 1983-84.
The Inaugural running of the Damon Runyon took place at Belmont Park on October 15, 1979. The feature race of the day, it was won by the Assunta Louis Farm's colt Restrainor under jockey Ruben Hernandez.
Leo O'Brien won this race three times but his 1990 win would come with the best horse he would ever train, Fourstars Allstar. The following year the horse made history when owner Richard Bomze and his Irish-born trainer took the colt to Ireland where he won the May 18, 1991 Irish 2000 Guineas. Although a number of horses bred in the United States and owned by Americans had won top level races in Europe, no horse trained in the United States had ever won a European classic race.

## Records

Speed record:
* 1:22.40 @ 7 furlongs: Notebook (1987)
* 1:42.78 @ 1 mile, 70 yards: Ibboye (2009)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 4 - Mike E. Smith (1990, 1992, 1993, 2006)
* 4 - Aaron Gryder (1998, 2000, 2002, 2015)
* 4 - Manuel Franco (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 4 - Rudy R. Rodriguez (2014, 2018, 2020, 2024)
Most wins by an owner:
* 2 - Assunta Louis Farm (1979, 1980)
* 2 - Alfred G. Vanderbilt Jr. (1992, 1998)
* 2 - Michael Dubb (2014, 2021)
* 2 - Chester Broman, Sr. (2016, 2025)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Dist. (Miles) (Furlongs) | Time | Win $ |
| 2025 | Sand Devil | 3 | Jose Lezcano | Linda Rice | Chester Broman, Sr. | 7 f | 1:24.66 | $100,000 |
| 2024 | Antonio of Venice | 3 | Manuel Franco | Rudy R. Rodriguez | Michael Imperio, Robert Cotrone, Hibiscus Stables LLC & Rudy R. Rodriguez | 6 f | 1:10.35 | $100,000 |
| 2023 | Looms Boldly | 3 | Manuel Franco | Brad H. Cox | Ten Strike Racing | 6 f | 1:13.75 | $100,000 |
| 2022 | Rotknee | 3 | Manuel Franco | Michael J. Maker | William J. Butler | 7 f | 1:27.06 | $100,000 |
| 2021 | Excellent Timing | 3 | Manuel Franco | Chad C. Brown | Michael Dubb, Wonder Stables, & Madaket Stables | 7 f | 1:28.02 | $55,000 |
| 2020 | Dream Bigger | 3 | Junior Alvarado | Rudy R. Rodriguez | Repole Stable | 7 f | 1:25.89 | $55,000 |
| 2019 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 2018 | Not That Brady | 2 | Reylu Gutierrez | Rudy R. Rodriguez | Michael Imperio, Rudy R. Rodriguez, Lianna Stables, Inc. | 1 m | 1:40.68 | $55,000 |
| 2017 | Empire Line | 2 | Eric Cancel | George Weaver | West Point Thoroughbreds & RAP Racing | 1 m | 1:38.75 | $60,000 |
| 2016 | Haul Anchor | 2 | Cornelio Velásquez | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | Chester Broman Sr. & Mary Broman | 1 m | 1:45.69 | $60,000 |
| 2015 | Extinct Charm | 2 | Aaron Gryder | Gary Contessa | John L. Moirano, William Achenbaum, Monty Foss, Steven Wecker | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:44.73 | $60,000 |
| 2014 | Good Luck Gus | 2 | Ruben Silvera | Rudy R. Rodriguez | Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables & The Elkstone Group | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:45.80 | $60,000 |
| 2013 | Samraat | 2 | José Santos | Richard Violette Jr. | My Meadowview Farm | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:44.09 | $60,000 |
| 2012 | Smooth Bert | 2 | Mike Luzzi | Leah Gyarmati | Bona Venture Stables | 1 m | 1:39.70 | $48,000 |
| 2011 | Swag Daddy | 2 | Junior Alvarado | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | Eric Fein | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:43.90 | $39,000 |
| 2010 | Beau de Beaupre | 2 | Alan Garcia | James A. Jerkens | Nassau CC Stables | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:45.33 | $39,000 |
| 2009 | Ibboyee | 2 | Ramon Dominguez | Todd A. Pletcher | Anstu Stables, Inc. | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:42.78 | $41,910 |
| 2008 | Haynesfield | 2 | Ramon Dominguez | Steven M. Asmussen | Turtle Bird Stable | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:42.95 | $50,265 |
| 2007 | Giant Moon | 2 | Ramon Dominguez | Richard Schosberg | Albert Fried Jr. | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:46.07 | $48,270 |
| 2006 | Lawrence the Roman | 2 | Mike E. Smith | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | Lawrence P. Roman | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:44.48 | $43,236 |
| 2005 | Platinum Couple | 2 | Jose Espinoza | Joseph A. Lostritto | Team TriStar Stable | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:46.60 | $51,150 |
| 2004 | Naughty New Yorker | 2 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Patrick J. Kelly | Fox Ridge Farm, Inc. | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:44.40 | $51,435 |
| 2003 | West Virginia | 2 | Richard Migliore | Todd A. Pletcher | Donald Zuckerman & Roberta Mary Zuckerman | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:47.80 | $50,205 |
| 2002 | Grey Comet | 2 | Aaron Gryder | Gary C. Contessa | Star Track Farms | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:44.20 | $49,575 |
| 2001 | Eye Of The Comet | 2 | Robert Messina | Sal Iorio Jr. | Cecil H. Fiske | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:46.40 | $48,945 |
| 2000 | Bluesbreaker | 2 | Aaron Gryder | H. Allen Jerkens | Southbelle Stable | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:44.20 | $49,560 |
| 1999 | Kirtons | 2 | Mike Luzzi | Michael Hushion | Eugene Melnyk | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:44.80 | $31,950 |
| 1998 | Ewer All Wet | 2 | Aaron Gryder | Mary E. Eppler | Alfred G. Vanderbilt Jr. | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:46.40 | $32,310 |
| 1997 | Undaunted Mettle | 2 | Jorge Chavez | Gary C. Contessa | Monty Foss & John Moirano | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:46.00 | $33,900 |
| 1996 | Regal Chant | 2 | Clovis Crane | Richard J. Lugovich | Richard J. Lugovich | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:45.80 | $32,220 |
| 1995 | Shoppers Gold | 2 | José Santos | Kenneth A. Nesky | New River Stable | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:45.40 | $33,030 |
| 1994 | Ave's Flag | 2 | John Velazquez | Leo O'Brien | David McNulty, Josef Omland | 1 m, 70 yds. | 1:46.80 | $33,330 |
| 1993 | Seminole Spirt | 2 | Mike E. Smith | Leo O'Brien | Diane K. Bomze | 1 m (t) | 1:41.80 | $44,400 |
| 1992 | Over the Brink | 2 | Mike E. Smith | Mary E. Eppler | Alfred G. Vanderbilt Jr. | 1 m | 1:36.60 | $57,330 |
| 1991 | Montreal Marty | 2 | Julie Krone | Flint S. Schulhofer | Vendome Stable | 1 m ( t) | 1:37.60 | $56,340 |
| 1990 | Fourstars Allstar | 2 | Mike E. Smith | Leo O'Brien | Richard Bomze | 1 m ( t) | 1:37.20 | $56,700 |
| 1989 | Champagneforashley | 2 | Jacinto Vasquez | Howard M. Tesher | Lion's Head Farm | 1 m | 1:35.00 | $54,000 |
| 1988 | Scarlet Ibis | 2 | Jacinto Vasquez | Richard T. DeStasio | Michael T. Martin | 7 f | 1:24.00 | $54,000 |
| 1987 | Notebook | 2 | José Santos | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 7 f | 1:22.40 | $42,480 |
| 1986 | Sweet Envoy | 2 | Jacinto Vasquez | Richard Violette Jr. | Camgi Stable | 1 m | 1:36.20 | $41,880 |
| 1985 | Bullet Blade | 2 | Robbie Davis | Murray M. Garren | Murray M. Garren | 1 m | 1:37.20 | $39,960 |
| 1984 | Hot Debate | 2 | Don MacBeth | Del W. Carroll II | William S. Farish III | 1 m | 1:38.40 | $42,180 |
| 1983 | Donna's World | 2 | Angel Cordero Jr. | Bruce N. Levine | Betty G. Marcus | 1 m | 1:39.40 | $34,380 |
| 1982 | Aloha Hawaii | 2 | Gregg McCarron | Paulino Ortiz | Seven Zee Stable | 7 f | 1:25.80 | $33,840 |
| 1981 | Guilford Lad | 2 | Eddie Maple | William H. Turner Jr. | Welcome Farm | 7 f | 1:24.60 | $49,320 |
| 1980 | Adirondack Holme | 2 | Ruben Hernandez | Ramon M. Hernandez | Assunta Louis Farm | 7 f | 1:23.60 | $49,770 |
| 1979 | Restrainor | 2 | Ruben Hernandez | Ramon M. Hernandez | Assunta Louis Farm | 7 f | 1:27.60 | $47,970 |