Damon Runyon a pivotal race for Voodoo Song

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Voodoo Song’s only win came on turf. He ran faster in his only race on dirt.

On Thursday, Voodoo Song will try to give his connections a better idea of which surface to focus on for the future when he runs in the $100,000 Damon Runyon Stakes at a mile and 70 yards over Aqueduct’s inner track.

The Damon Runyon, restricted to New York-bred juveniles, is the featured event on a nine-race card as racing resumes on this circuit following a 10-day holiday break. The Damon Runyon goes as race 8 and is the penultimate leg of a pick-six wager that begins the day with a $30,987 carryover after it was not hit Dec. 18.

Voodoo Song, trained by Mike Hushion for owner-breeder Barry Schwartz, is by 2007 champion turf male English Channel and out of Mystic Chant, who won a restricted stakes on dirt. Voodoo Song finished second in his debut, a race scheduled for the turf but run on dirt due to rain. He had to alter course in the stretch and ended up second, one length behind La Cat Warrior.

Voodoo Song came back 13 days later on Nov. 5 to win his maiden by two lengths on the turf. Hushion said the Damon Runyon has been the goal for Voodoo Song since then.

“I’d like to find out about the dirt,” Hushion said. “It’s not etched in stone he’s a turf horse.”

Voodoo Song drew the rail and will be ridden by Dylan Davis.

The Damon Runyon drew a field of nine, including Carradine, the only two-time winner in the field, and Mollica, a 3 1/2-length winner in his only dirt start. Both are trained by Linda Rice.

Bourbon Empire stretches out in distance after a debut win going 5 1/2 furlongs and a third in the Notebook Stakes at six furlongs. Haul Anchor got caught up in a duel in the slop and basically was eased in the Sleepy Hollow in his last start. After losing his first two starts, Mo Maverick is 2 for 2 on turf and on Lasix.

KEY CONTENDERS

Voodoo Song, by English Channel

Beyers: 66-80

◗ Finished second in his debut on dirt Oct. 23 and was one of three next-out dirt winners that race produced.

◗ Came back with Lasix and won on turf despite tossing his head about early on.

Bourbon Empire, by Majestic Warrior

Beyers: 80-76

◗ Pulled off a 20-1 upset at Belmont in his debut in October.

◗ Broke awkwardly and was last early in the Notebook Stakes on Nov. 19 but came with a steady late run to be third and galloped out past the winner. He has come back with two solid works.

◗ Trainer Mark Hennig believes Bourbon Empire wants to go long.

“He trains like it, always has,” Hennig said. “I’m surprised he ran as well as he did the first time because we thought he needed more ground.”

◗ He will break from post 2 under Rajiv Maragh.

Mo Maverick, by Uncle Mo

Last 3 Beyers: 73-71-46

◗ His debut, a second on dirt to Haul Anchor at Saratoga, was decent, but he broke poorly in his second start and did little running in a poor effort as the favorite at Belmont on Sept. 23.