Restricted to horses bred in New York State, it was usually run in the late fall or early winter and open for two-year-olds only until 2020.
One of a series of NYRA races for New York-bred horses, it is an important part of maintaining the significant breeding industry in that state.
The race is named for Damon Runyon, a famous sports reporter and short story writer who created a Broadway all his own during the Twenties and Thirties.
The feature race of the day, it was won by the Assunta Louis Farm's colt Restrainor under jockey Ruben Hernandez.
The following year the horse made history when owner Richard Bomze and his Irish-born trainer took the colt to Ireland where he won the May 18, 1991 Irish 2000 Guineas.