Pletcher leaning toward running Spooked Out in Damon Runyon

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Todd Pletcher might give Sudden Surprise an opportunity to stretch out in distance at some point, but he’s just not sure that will happen in Saturday’s $100,000 Damon Runyon Stakes at Aqueduct.

Pletcher entered both Sudden Surprise, a three-time stakes-winning sprinter, and Spooked Out, a maiden winner from three starts, in both the Damon Runyon at a mile and 70 yards and Sunday’s $150,000 Great White Way Division of the New York Stallion Stakes at six furlongs.

Though he doesn’t have to decide until Saturday, Pletcher indicated he is likely to run Spooked Out in the Damon Runyon and Sudden Surprise in the Great White Way.

Spooked Out, a son of Catienus, won a six-furlong maiden race at Aqueduct by 9 1/2 lengths on Nov. 7, earning an 84 Beyer Speed Figure. He came back 20 days later in the King’s Swan Stakes, got hooked in a protracted speed duel, and finished fourth behind runaway winner Jan’s Reserve.

Pletcher believes “if he can relax,” Spooked Out should be able to handle the added distance in the Damon Runyon. Manny Franco rides from post 3.

Gehrig finished second to Spooked Out, then came back to win his maiden by 2 1/2 lengths on Nov. 28. He will face Spooked Out again in the Damon Runyon.

Gehrig’s trainer, Bruce Levine, said he was looking to sprint the gelding by Ghostzapper one more time before stretching him out but didn’t see a race in which to do that. Levine believes Gehrig has more to offer.

“He’s trained better than he’s run so far,” Levine said.

Levine has won with four of his last five starters at Aqueduct.

Taoiseach, an allowance winner at 49-1 on Dec. 11, is back on short notice. Extinct Cham and E J’s Legacy complete the field.

The Damon Runyon was carded as the second race on Saturday’s nine-race program.