Not That Brady has speed edge in Damon Runyon

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – La Fuerza will have to prove he can get a mile, while Not That Brady will have to prove he’s not a one-hit wonder when the two clash in Monday’s $100,000 Damon Runyon Stakes for New York-bred juveniles at Aqueduct.

Only six were entered for the Damon Runyon, and the advantage may lie with Not That Brady, who could play out as the primary speed under apprentice Reylu Gutierrez. Gutierrez will not get the five-pound weight allowance because this is a stakes race.

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez claimed Not That Brady for $50,000 out of a fourth-place finish at Saratoga in his debut. Two months later, it looked like a terrible claim after Not That Brady finished last of 10 in a statebred maiden race.

Rodriguez still has no explanation for that performance. Three weeks later, he entered Not That Brady in a turf race going one mile. The race came off the turf, Not That Brady ran anyway, and he finished second at 39-1. On Dec. 8, Not That Brady galloped to an 11 1/4-length victory in a statebred maiden race, also at a mile, earning a gaudy 91 Beyer Speed Figure.

Rodriguez believes the added distance may have benefited Not That Brady, a son of Big Brown.

“Distance, I think, is the key for him,” Rodriguez said. “He can get comfortable, he doesn’t have to be rushed. Sometimes when you’re going three-quarters and you get to rushing them, some of the horses don’t like it.”

Perusing the past performances of the Damon Runyon field, Rodriguez said: “It looks like we’re going to be on the lead. I’m going to put him in the race early and take it from there.”

La Fuerza, trained by Todd Pletcher for Barry Schwartz, is 4 for 7 with three stakes wins going six furlongs. In his only try at one mile, La Fuerza finished 10th of 12 in the Sleepy Hollow Stakes at Belmont. He broke on top that day, quickly settled into midpack, was bearing out on the far turn, and was not persevered with in the final furlong. He bounced back with a solid victory in the Notebook Stakes going six furlongs here Nov. 25.

“He seems like he could stretch out,” said Byron Hughes, assistant to Pletcher. “He finishes his breezes well and gallops out strong.”

The Pletcher barn also sends out Southern King, who finished third behind Le General in a first-level statebred allowance here Dec. 9. Hughes noted that Southern King lost his left front shoe in that race.

Beachside, who ran down Not That Brady in a Nov. 10 maiden race, was a dull fourth in the same Dec. 9 race that Southern King finished third.

Pipes, whose lone win from six starts was in a one-turn mile race at Belmont, and Invaluable Will complete the field.

There will be eight races on Monday’s card. As it is the last day of the calendar year, the entire pool of the multiple-race exotic wagers such as the pick six and both pick fives must be paid out.