Arctic Beast much the best in $135K Damon Runyon
Arctic Beast, with his fourth win from five starts, remains undefeated in the Empire State after a sparkling 9 3/4-length romp in Saturday’s $135,000 Damon Runyon, a seven-furlong sprint for New York-bred sophomores, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Mike Maker for Paradise Farms Corp., JP Racing Stable, David Staudacher, Zilla Racing Stables and P Shooter Stable, the Yaupon colt made every pole a winning one under regular pilot Ricardo Santana, Jr. avenging a 6 1/4-length second to Express Kid in the Listed Springboard Mile in December to close out his juvenile campaign at Remington Park in Oklahoma.
Peter Proscia of Paradise Farms Corp. said Arctic Beast more than made amends.
“It was a pretty good race last time, but we thought we’d cut him back and give him a little time and this was a good spot back to New York-breds,” Proscia said. “We’ll see what happens from here. If he comes back good, we’ll look for maybe something [with] a little more competition – perhaps open [company]. One race at a time.
“He [Santana, Jr.] had a lot of horse here,” Proscia added. “I think seven-eighths, a mile, is going to be OK. We’ll probably give him a month, or at least five weeks, and see what comes up.”
Arctic Beast broke alertly from the outermost post 6 and showed the way through an opening quarter-mile in 23.19 seconds over the fast main track with Combat Mission, Time to Roll and Mission Critical stalking his early foot.
Combat Mission advanced to press the pace late in the turn, but Arctic Beast maintained his advantage after a half-mile in 46.99 and once straightened away continued to find more. Arctic Beast opened up by 6 1/2-lengths at the stretch call and pulled away from the field to win comfortably in hand in a final time of 1:25.11.
Santana, Jr. said he wanted to take advantage of Arctic Beast’s natural speed.
“In Remington, first time two turns, I was talking to one owner, and I said, ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea to go to the lead first time two turns.’ I knew he was going to get a little tired, so we decided to take him back. We were happy with him and the way he relaxed,” Santana, Jr. said. “Today, I said ‘I know the track is playing speed, and he’s fast.’ I thought I had much the best horse in the race, I decided to take the lead, and he was much the best today.”
Combat Mission completed the exacta by 3 1/4-lengths over Time to Roll with Mission Critical, Royal Riddle and Portadown Lad rounding out the order of finish. Combat Mission was found to be lame right front walking back after unsaddling and was provided a precautionary ride to the barn area in the equine ambulance.
Arctic Beast won his first three career starts – all against fellow state-breds – graduating in August at Saratoga Race Course by a nose over Valentine Crusader. He made his next two starts in stakes company at Finger Lakes Racetrack, taking the Aspirant in September by 7 1/4-lengths and the New York Breeders’ Futurity in October by 5 3/4-lengths.
Arctic Beast was selected by Maker for $275,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale. Bred by Rockridge Stud, Saratoga Glen Farm and Beal’s Racing Stable, Arctic Beast is out of the dual stakes-winning Frost Giant mare Frostie Anne – a half-sister to dual stakes-winner Freudie Anne.
Arctic Beast banked $74,250 in victory while improving his record to 5-4-1-0. He returned $3.58 for a $2 win bet as the 3-5 mutuel favorite.
Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A with an eight-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
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