NYRA/Chelsea Durand
By Sarah Mace
Patricia Generazio homebred Disco Partner (Disco Rico) passed four rivals in the final furlong of Saratoga’s $100,000 Troy stakes on Saturday afternoon and, with a last surge among a host of closers, got up in time to win the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint by a neck.
An eye-catching runner-up two races back when he motored home to finish just a neck behind Pure Sensation in the Grade 3 Jaipur Stakes at odds of 16-1, Disco Partner was looking for redemption after his July 9 race, a seven-furlong open turf sprint allowance, when he could not manage better than fourth after being compromised by a poor start.
Bet down to 4-1 third choice in the field of seven while cutting back to distance he had not raced since last summer at the Spa, Disco Partner settled in fifth for the opening portion of the race, but never more than three lengths or so from early pacesetter Spring to the Sky, who clocked a challenging opening quarter mile in 21.79 with Rainbow Heir in hot pursuit.
The grey was asked in earnest for his bid when spun out five wide into the lane. In the clear toward the grandstand side, full of run and joining a cavalry charge for home, he passed four rivals to his inside, and outfinished 2-1 favorite Green Mask who was closing to his outside to secure victory in a blazing final time of 1:00.93.
Only 2 1/4 lengths separated the entire field at the finish. Green Mask and and Rainbow Heir finished noses apart to complete the trifecta, followed a half length back by Long On Value. Calgary Cat, Spring to the Sky and Songsational completed the order of finish. [VIDEO]
Winning jockey Jose Ortiz said of his excellently-timed ride, “Today we broke very clean. We took a good position and had a perfect trip. You have to give [trainer] Jim [Ryerson] all the credit, he had him trained well. I’m very happy that I could get it done for him.”
Continued Ortiz, “There was some speed in there. He broke really clean, that was our concern. He had broke poorly before [July 9], but we got it done.”
NYRA/Adam Coglianese
Ryerson added, “With five-and-a-half [furlongs], he probably has to lay a little closer than he would like, but Jose [Ortiz] did a great job and got him up, and that is all that counts. I told him to try to get him in the clear for the run. He’s not the type of horse you want to pick your way through while saving ground and waiting for a seam. He really has to get that momentum sweeping off that turn. That seems like his best race.”
In addition to his runner-up finish in the Jaipur, 4-year-old Disco Partner has been knocking on the door in stakes competition on and off ever since his second career start, when he finished second in the Great White Way division of the NYSS in December 2014. Third in his sophomore debut in April 2015, the Times Square division of the same series, he transitioned from dirt to turf competition and he added a third place finish in the Quick Call at Saratoga.
With five wins, four seconds and two thirds from 14 career starts, this hard trying and consistent runner has earned $359,310. Disco Partner’s conditioner is eyeing the $150,000 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational on October 8 for his next start.
Disco Partner is one of five winners from five starters out of Lulu’s Number, a multiple winner of over $200,000 by Numerous bred by Patricia Generazio in New Jersey. Her first foal Don Six’s Number (Don Six) is a stakes performer and earner of $212,686. The mare’s offspring combined have earned over $940,000 in purses.
Currently Lulu’s Number has a 2-year-old New York-bred filly by Pomeroy named Lulu’s Pom Pom who is in training at Belmont Park and a yearling filly by Posse named Lulu’s Partner. Lulu’s Number was bred to First Samurai this year.
