Audible's potential sure to garner him support in Damon Runyon Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The depth of the nine-horse field entered for Saturday’s $100,000 Damon Runyon Stakes at Aqueduct is such that the race drew four stakes winners, none of whom figure to go off favored in the one-turn mile event for New York-bred 2-year-olds.

That role figures to go to Audible, a $500,000 2-year-old in training purchase who is coming off a 9 3/4-length allowance victory here Dec. 6.

Audible is a son of Into Mischief owned by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, and SF Racing, and trained by Todd Pletcher. He is 2 for 2 in one-turn mile races at Aqueduct, having also won a Nov. 15 maiden race. The second- and third-place finishers in that race also came back to win, including Honor Up, who is in this field.

Originally slated to train from that race into the Damon Runyon, Audible was entered for the main track only for the Dec. 6 race, which Pletcher decided to use in lieu of working the colt a few more times. When the race was taken off the turf, Audible romped in a four-horse field.

“I thought he got some experience out of it, ran well, finished up strongly,” Pletcher said. “He’s a promising colt that continues to improve.”

Audible breaks from post 8 under Chris DeCarlo.

Trainer Bill Mott entered two in the Damon Runyon. As of Thursday, he was considering running Jaye Jay and planning to scratch Honor Up to run in Monday’s $150,000 Jerome. Jaye Jaye has won both of his starts – a maiden race on the turf and an allowance race that was scheduled for the turf but run on the dirt.

Mott said Jaye Jaye improved with experience in his second race.

“There was a heavy favorite in there,” Mott said. “They took it right to him.

“He ran well. He’s a nice little horse.”

Empire Line has raced only once, defeating maidens sprinting by two lengths. Aqua Bel Sar, fourth in that race, came back to win a division of the New York Stallion Series as a maiden here Dec. 17. Runner-up Flash Drive also came back to win.

The four stakes winners in the field are Sea Foam (Notebook Stakes), Evaluator (Sleepy Hollow), Analyze the Odds (New York Breeders’ Futurity), and Battle Station (Bertram Bongard).

Seven Lillies completes the field.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Audible, by Into Mischief

Last 3 Beyers: 84-79-70

◗ After adversely reacting to dirt being kicked in his face when third in his debut, he has bounced back with two solid victories.

◗ DeCarlo takes over for Javier Castellano, who is in Florida. DeCarlo has won seven stakes from 35 stakes mounts this year, two for Pletcher.

Empire Line, by Morning Line

Beyer: 85

◗ Yields a lot in experience, but he did beat eight New York-bred maidens by two lengths Dec. 1.

Sea Foam, by Medaglia d’Oro

Last 3 Beyers: 82-73-69

◗ Has won his last two, including the Notebook Stakes, where he was running on Lasix for the first time.

◗ With the rail and Kendrick Carmouche aboard, he is likely to try and set the pace.