Sand Devil improves to 3 for 3 with Damon Runyon, will likely target Gotham Stakes next

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - It was closer than expected, but heavily favored Sand Devil remained unbeaten with a neck victory over National Identity in Saturday’s $121,250 Damon Runyon Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds at Aqueduct.

The victory improved Sand Devil’s record to 3 for 3 and likely earned him a shot against open company in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes here on March 1.

Sand Devil was sent off the 1-5 favorite based on two dynamic victories against New York-bred company to begin his career. Trainer Linda Rice had considered the Withers Stakes on Feb. 1 for Sand Devil, but some inclement weather made for tracks Rice didn’t feel comfortable breezing her horses on.

That made the Damon Runyon a seemingly easy Plan B, but the race did not wind up being easy.

Under Jose Lezcano, Sand Devil made the lead coming out of the chute, but had only a half-length advantage over National Identity through a half-mile in a slow 48.58 seconds. The two horses stayed together through the lane - officially National Identity was a head in front at the eighth pole - but Sand Devil ultimately prevailed by a neck. It was 8 1/2 lengths back to Soontobeking in third. Fireballin and Just Licorice completed the order of finish.

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Rice felt Lezcano should have been more aggressive with Sand Devil around the far turn.

“I thought he should have opened up in the middle of the turn,” Rice said. “They went slow early and then they sprinted home fast. I thought he gave away his advantage around the turn, I thought that was a mistake and let’s not do that next time.”

Sand Devil, a son of Violence owned and bred by Chester Broman, covered the seven furlongs in 1:24.66 and returned $2.40.

“My horse is a big horse and he isn’t that quick when you ask him, it takes him a couple strides to get into full stride, so this is why the other horse come very close to him,” Lezcano said after the race. “He kept responding every stride I asked him to.”

National Identity, coming off a head loss at 17-1 in the $500,000 Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Stakes on Dec. 14, nearly pulled another upset Saturday at 7-2 odds in this five-horse field.

“He left me in the race enough where it was going to look like that at the end, but my horse ran a very beautiful race,” Carmouche said. “I thought he ran a little bit better than last time, that means we’re on the improve a little, but a good horse beat us today.”

East View

On top out of the gate, last leaving the three-eighths pole, Bernieandtherose wore down longshot Storm Changer to win the $121,250 East View Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by a half-length.

It was 2 1/4 lengths back to odds-on favorite Naïve Melody in third. Boston’s Phinest and Straca completed the order of finish.

It was the third straight win for Bernieandtherose, a daughter of Accelerate owned by Robert Rosenthal and Brad Bernstein and trained by Dominick Schettino. Bernieandtherose was entered in, but scratched, from the Busher Stakes last month after she developed an eye irritation. It turned out she had a piece of straw under her eye lid, according to Schettino.

Saturday, under Katie Davis, Bernieandtherose was first out of the gate. Davis guided Bernieandtherose to the rail and was content to let Naïve Melody and Storm Changer go to the lead. Naïve Melody was a half-length in front of Storm Changer after a half-mile in 47.34 seconds. Bernieandtherose was last, but only 2 1/2 lengths off the pace.

Davis got Bernieandtherose off the rail turning for home and Bernieandtherose was able to reel in Storm Changer in the final yards. Bernieandtherose covered seven furlongs in 1:26.35 and returned $9.80 to win.

“She broke on top but I wasn’t trying to rush her off her feet because I didn’t want to be in that speed duel,” Davis said. “So I let them go, sat the pocket for the first time ever with her and she didn’t mind it. I tipped her out and she came running home.”

Schettino liked the trip Bernieandtherose got in the East View.

“It was nice to see her sit off of the pace, she did that in her second start,” Schettino said. “She’s starting to mature now getting used to horses around her, her first two aces she was a little insecure with horses around her, but now she’s maturing and developing as she goes on.”

Schettino said Bernieandtherose will be considered for both the $200,000 Busher on March 1 and the $125,000 Maddie May Stakes, for New York-breds, on March 8.

Naïve Melody was the 4-5 favorite based on a solid debut victory. Kent Desormeaux was named to ride her, but the New York State Gaming Commission would not license him because he needed to provide more information on his license application, according to state steward Braulio Baeza Jr. Desormeaux hadn’t ridden in New York since 2018.

Kendrick Carmouche rode Naïve Melody, who seemed to have things her own way on the front end, but couldn’t use it her to advantage.

“No excuse, she had everything her way,” Carmouche said. “I got to the outside of [Bernieandtherose], sitting easy down the backside. [Storm Changer] made me move a little early around the turn.”

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