Antonio of Venice steps up for Rodriguez, takes Damon Runyon Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Though he had to scratch the morning-line favorite from the race, trainer Rudy Rodriguez still won Sunday’s $100,000 Damon Runyon Stakes at Aqueduct easily.

With Heavyweight Champs scratched due to a quarter crack of his left front foot, Antonio of Venice took control soon after the start, shrugged off some mild pace pressure from Mischief Joke, and galloped to a 9 1/4-length victory in the Damon Runyon for New York-bred 3-year-olds.

Mischief Joke, who beat Antonio of Venice in the Rego Park last month, finished second by 1 1/4 lengths over the maiden Aelfgar. Mad Banker finished last of the quartet.

Antonio of Venice won for the third time from eight starts and added the Damon Runyon to a victory in last December’s $500,000 Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Series.

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Rodriguez said that Heavyweight Champs typically is sharp away from the gate. When he had to scratch that one, Rodriguez told Manny Franco to put Antonio of Venice on the lead, the one caveat being not to get hooked up in a duel with Aelfgar, who broke from the inside.

Antonio of Venice broke best, had a half-length lead over Mischief Joke through an opening quarter in 23.83 seconds. Midway around the far turn, Franco asked Antonio of Venice to go and he left Mischief Joke and the rest in his wake.

Franco said Dylan Davis, rider of Mischief Joke, knew he couldn’t let him get away to an easy lead but Franco said he had plenty of horse.

“I kept improving my position, my horse was responding, he was much the best today,” Franco said.

Antonio of Venice, a son of Laoban owned by Michael Imperio, Robert Cotrone and Hibiscus Stables and Rodriguez, covered the six furlongs in 1:10.35 and returned $4.10 as the second choice.

“I told Manny if you break good, take it,” Rodriguez said. “When Manny asked him at the three-eighths, he looked like he had a lot of horse. I felt confident when Manny asked him and he opened up.”

Antonio of Venice is eligible for the $200,000 Times Square division of the New York Stallion Series on April 14 should the connections elect to run back next month.

A ‘Sweet” East View for Barrow

When Sweet Brown Sugar drew post 2 for Sunday’s $100,000 East View Stakes, trainer Paul Barrow was quite concerned that his New York-bred 3-year-old filly couldn’t avoid getting dirt kicked in her face, something she does not like.

But with the pacesetters sitting a few paths off the rail, Jose Lezcano kept Sweet Brown Sugar on the inside and was able to keep her face clean. When he asked her for run approaching the quarter pole, Sweet Brown Sugar responded and kicked clear for a four-length victory in the East View for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Bernietakescharge, the 4-5 favorite, finished second, one length in front of Caldwell Luvs Gold. Thirteen Red Flags, Bustin Time, Rumint and Soloshot completed the order of finish.

Jockey Luis Rivera Jr. kept pacesetting Bustin Time in the two-to-three path down the backside, with Trevor McCarthy and Bernietakescharge sitting outside of her. Lezcano meanwhile was content to sit inside on Sweet Brown Sugar, who didn’t get any dirt thrown back at her.

Sweet Brown Sugar, a daughter of Collected owned by Richie Rich Racing Stable, covered six furlongs in 1:10.55 and returned $14.

Barrow called it a “masterful ride” by Lezcano.

“My biggest concern was her getting trapped behind a wall of horses and the kickback and all of that and for him to negotiate a way to get outside,” Barrow said. “But he was smart enough to stay inside and keep her clean so that was great.”

For Barrow, who spends most of the year at Finger Lakes, it was his first stakes win on the NYRA circuit.

“When you start training you want to win these races,” said Barrow, who has 914 career wins. “I’m a big New York-bred guy, so to win it with a New York-bred is great.”

Having run twice in 14 days, Sweet Brown Sugar will likely get a bit of a break, Barrow said.

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