NYRA/Coglianese Photo

Chowda looks for third straight win in headlining Sunday's $100K Damon Runyon

by Ryan Martin

Eddie F's Racing's Chowda will look for a second stakes victory when shortening up in distance against a seven-horse field of fellow New York-bred sophomores in Sunday's $100,000 Damon Runyon at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Chowda, trained by Gary Sciacca, arrives at the seven-furlong main-track event off a gate-to-wire victory - at 15-1 odds - in the Gander on February 16 at the Big A. The dark bay colt was hustled out of the gate by jockey Eric Cancel and set moderate fractions up front. The son of Emcee engaged in a stretch duel with stakes-winner Bank On Shea before drawing away for a three-quarter length score, registering a personal-best 77 Beyer Speed Figure.

Following an Aqueduct maiden victory at third asking, Chowda defeated fellow Empire State-bred contenders in a one-turn mile on January 17 at Aqueduct to set up his Gander success.

"He's doing well and training well. I won't tell Eric to do anything, he seems to know the horse well enough," Sciacca said.

Cancel will attempt his third stakes win of the meet, piloting Chowda from post 5.

Trainer Linda Rice has already saddled three stakes winners this meet and seeks a fourth, sending out a pair of contenders in Scilly Cay and Prince of Pharoahs.

Owned by Jon Clay's Alpha Delta Stable, Scilly Cay earned Rice her 2,000th career triumph in the Rego Park on January 12.

The son of Fed Biz will try to make amends from finishing fourth in the Gander, where he was 5 ½ lengths to Chowda.

"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."

The homebred Scilly Cay will have Lezcano, who leads all riders with seven stakes wins this meet, back in the irons from post 4.

Stakes-placed Prince of Pharoahs will attempt to come out on top after a narrow loss against winners as the favorite.

Owned by Darlene Bilinski and Harry Patten, the son of 2015 Triple Crown winner and second-crop sire American Pharoah was second, beaten a head, to fellow Damon Runyon aspirant Titan's Will in a one-turn mile on February 25. Two starts prior, he ran second in the Jerome, four lengths to Independence Hall, by dead-heating with Bourbon Bay who also is entered in Sunday's race.

"He's breezed well since and we're hoping for a strong effort," Rice said.

Kendrick Carmouche, owner of three stakes wins this meet, will ride Prince of Pharoahs from post 5.

Repole Stable's Dream Bigger has finished in the money in all six starts (2-3-1) and has been the favorite each time. Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, the gray son of Mission Impazible boasts two stakes wins, capturing the New York Breeders' Futurity on September 30 at Finger Lakes and the Notebook on November 17 at Aqueduct. Dream Bigger also has the field's highest lifetime earnings with $318,428.

Jockey Junior Alvarado be aboard Dream Bigger from the inside post.

Completing the field is Twin Creeks Racing Stable and Brent Gassaway's More Graytful for trainer Brad Cox.

The homebred son of Graydar out of stakes-placed More Than Ready broodmare More Than Beauty graduated at third asking in his most recent start over next-out winner Double Shot as the lukewarm favorite.

More Graytful will be ridden by Jorge Vargas, Jr., who seeks his fifth stakes win of the meet, from post 2.

Titan's Will drew post 7 and will have the services of jockey Luis Rodriguez Castro.

The Damon Runyon is scheduled as Race 8 on Saturday's nine-race program. First post is 1:30 p.m. Eastern.