Yaupon colt proves to be a “beast” in Damon Runyon S.

Arctic beast ran away from the field in the Aqueduct stretch to score a 9 ¾-length win in Saturday’s Damon Runyon S. for 3-year-olds.

The Yaupon colt now has won four of five starts by a combined 22 ¾-lengths. Owned by Paradise Farms Corp., JP Racing Stable, David Staudacher, Zilla Racing Stables and P Shooter Stable, the dark bay’s only blemish was second-place finish in the Springboard Mile.

In control from the outset of the seven-furlong Runyon, Arctic Beast cruised through a half-mile of :46.99. Combat Mission looked poised to mount a serious challenge, but Arctic Beast easily shrugged him off at the top of the stretch to win all by himself.

“It was a pretty good race last time (in the Springboard), but we thought we’d cut him back and give him a little time and this was a good spot back to New York-breds,” said Paradise Farms’s Peter Proscia. “We’ll see what happens from here. If he comes back good, we’ll look for maybe something [with] a little more competition–perhaps open [company]. One race at a time.

“He [Ricardo Santana, Jr.] had a lot of horse here. I think seven-eighths, a mile, is going to be OK. We’ll probably give him a month, or at least five weeks and see what comes up.”

Arctic Beast’s earnings now stand at $339,753. Bred in New York by Rockridge Stud, LLC & Saratoga Glen Farm & Beal’s Racing Stable, LLC, Arctic Beast sold for $275,000 at the 2024 Preferred New York Bred’s sale.

Yaupon has five stakes horses thus far in 2026, including Swale S. winner Solitude Dude. The champion Freshman Sire of 2025, Yaupon is standing for $60,000 S&N.