'Lawrence' asked to go long

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - If you're going to name a horse after yourself, he better have talent. Fortunately for owner Lawrence Roman, Lawrence the Roman does.

Unbeaten in his first two starts, Lawrence the Roman will be heavily favored to remain undefeated when he meets eight rivals in Sunday's $65,000 Damon Runyon Stakes for New York-bred 2-year-olds at Aqueduct. The Damon Runyon is run at 1 1/16 miles over the inner track.

Despite breaking slowly in each of his two starts, Lawrence the Roman has won as much the best both times. In his debut, going six furlongs on Sept. 27 at Belmont Park, Lawrence the Roman was last out of the gate, made a big, wide move around the far turn and won by 4 1/4 lengths with Edgar Prado simply waving the whip at him.

On Nov. 16, in a first-level allowance race over a sealed, wet Aqueduct main track, Lawrence the Roman was again last out of the gate, rushed up to sit third off dueling leaders and took over when asked by Cornelio Velasquez to win by 10 while running a mile in 1:38.61 and earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 80.

As a son of dual-classic winner Point Given, Lawrence the Roman should excel when stretched out around two turns in this spot. The only disconcerting thing about Lawrence the Roman is that he does not show a work since his last race.

"I think it'll be better for him to go two turns because he breaks a little slow,'' said Juan Rodriguez, assistant to trainer Richard Dutrow Jr., who is in Hong Kong this weekend. "He's doing all right, he's galloping good, the exercise rider said he's good.''

Lawrence the Roman, who is coupled in the wagering with the maiden Zip on By, will break from post 8 under Mike Smith.

The Todd Pletcher stable sends out the uncoupled entry of Premier Perfection and Your Hour's Up, both of whom are coming off maiden wins in their last start.

Premier Perfection, a son of Go for Gin, won his debut by a neck going seven furlongs on Oct. 22 at Belmont on the front end. Seth Benzel, Pletcher's New York-based assistant, said he believes the horse should move forward in his second start, and first around two turns.

Winless in his first four starts, Your Hour's Up finally put things together last out, winning a one-mile maiden race over Aqueduct's main track.

Baxter, Fahrenheit Wild, Mondo Diverso, Gold and Blue Box, and Embrace Life complete the field.