Grey Comet and jockey Aaron Gryder took the lead at the top of the stretch and pulled away from the field to keep his career record perfect in the 24th running of the $82,575 Damon Runyon Stakes at Aqueduct on Sunday. Grey Comet, who won the New York Stallion Stakes Great White Way Division on Nov. 10, is now 3-for-3 in his career. He won the 1 1/16-mile Damon Runyon for juvenile New York-breds in 1:44 1/5 over the fast inner track. The homebred gray son of Distinctive Pro earned $49,575 for Star Track Farms. He has now earned $150,375.Unswept, the 4-5 race favorite under C. C. Lopez, set the pace with fractions of :23 2/5, :47 1/5 and 1:12 1/5. He was passed at the top of the stretch by Grey Comet, but he responded in the stretch before settling for second, 3 ¾ lengths behind."These are two very nice New York breds," said winning trainer Gary Contessa, who also conditions Unswept. "Grey Comet worked so well going a mile ... and I thought he'd handle the distance."The winner returned $9.30, $3.50 and $2.70. Unswept paid $3.10 and $2.60 and Go Rockin' Robin showed at $3.20.Jockey Javier Castellano won four races races earlier in the Aqueduct card.
(Chart, Equibase)