Todd Pletcher Has Formidable Pair in $100,000 Damon Runyon Stakes

Sudden Surprise tops the field as the co-favorite at odds of 4-5 and is one of two horses in the race for trainer Todd Pletcher. A bay son of Giant Surprise bred and owned by Repole Stable, the bay colt has won four of his five starts and is a multiple stakes winner. After suffering his first defeat two starts back in the Sleepy Hollow Stakes, he rebounded to win the Notebook Stakes last time out. John Velazquez will be in the irons from the outside post.

Spooked Out looking for first stakes win

Spooked Out, tabbed as the co-favorite at odds of 4-5, will also come out of the Todd Pletcher barn. A gray son of Catienus, he will also carry the colors of owner and breeder Mike Repole. He has one win from three starts and will be trying to earn his first stakes victory. He broke his maiden in his second start and was fourth in his stakes debut in the King’s Swan Stakes. Manuel Franco will be aboard from post position three.

Class test for talented Gehrig 

Also in the field at morning line odds of 5-2 is Gehrig for trainer Bruce Levine. A bay son of Ghostzapper, the gelding is a homebred for Paul Braverman and will be making his stakes debut. After a runner-up effort in his first start at Aqueduct, he came back to break his maiden last time out as the favorite despite a stumble at the start. Kendrick Carmouche will be aboard and they will break from post position two.