Belmont-loving Disco Partner successfully defends Jaipur title

By Sarah Mace

Frank and Patricia Generazio’s homebred Disco Partner, by late New York sire Disco Rico, brought high expectations and a record of seven wins from 11 tries over Belmont turf into Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Jaipur Invitational Stakes, a race he won last year in world record time.

The bettors’ pick in a classy field of eight, Disco Partner obliged, mowing down his rivals in the lane after a stalking trip. With his $220,000 winner’s share of the purse, the 6-year-old grey became a millionaire into the bargain.

Last seen in the winner’s circle on October 7 when he won the 6-furlong Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational, Disco Partner wrapped up the year by making the trip to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint where he finished third, just a half-length shy of winner Stormy Liberal, who was also signed on for Saturday’s Jaipur. In his first start back this year on April 7 in Keeneland’s Grade 2 Shakertown, Disco Partner was a well-beaten third over yielding turf, which he may not have relished.

Teamed up with regular rider Irad Ortiz, Jr., Disco Partner set up in fifth/sixth from post five shortly after the bell and made his way inwards into the two-path, three lengths behind stablemate and fellow Generazio homebred Pure Sensation. The pacesetter clocked the opening quarter mile in 22.16 pressed along by Conquest Tsunami and Pocket Change.

Asked for more run once he was well into the far turn, Disco Partner geared up, angled six-wide and was set down for the drive with five horses still to pass. Passing his first rivals around the furlong marker and in the clear, Disco Partner hit his best stride.

Like a grey streak, he powered the remaining three horses, hit the front with six strides to go and went on to score a convincing one-length victory. When a photo sorted out the blanket finish behind the winner, Conquest Tsunami finished second, a head in front of Pure Sensation. Another head back, Holding Gold and Pocket Change — in fourth and fifth — were separated by a nose.

After a 44.03 half-mile, Disco Partner’s final time for 6 furlongs was 1:06.74, the second-fastest running of the Jaipur when run at this distance, a mark bested only by his own record time in the race last year of 1:05.67. The Jaipur is a “Win and You’re In” in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series for Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

“He broke so good and sharp and put me in a good spot,” said Ortiz. “I held him together and in the mid-pack, I made my move …, got him in the clear and … in the stretch, and he took off.”

The pilot continued, “He always tries hard. He is a nice horse and it’s nice to see him back from his layoff after [the Shakertown] in Keeneland, where he didn’t have a good race on the turf – he wasn’t comfortable on the soft turf.”

Clement said, “Basically, everything worked out great. He was a bit closer to the pace today. The other horse [Pure Sensation who set the pace] actually ran a great race because he grabbed a quarter pretty bad and still managed to finish third.”

“My first feeling when you win these kind of races, it’s a great credit to Mr. and Mrs. Genarazio. They have a wonderful program and they are great owners and breeders to work for. I’m just a lucky guy to train those kind of horses.”

Clement has won the Jaipur three years running with Pure Sensation in 2016 and twice with Disco Partner.

“I’m very happy,” he said. “I’m thrilled. I’ve won the race two or three times in the last few years and I’m delighted.”

Disco Partner moved to Clement’s barn in 2017 following a successful three-year run with trainer Jimmy Ryerson from 2014-2016. Last year he won four of six starts, headlined by Jaipur. In addition to victories in the Elusive Quality and Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational, in a tour de force performance for a confirmed sprinter, Disco Partner also successfully stretched out to a mile to win the Forbidden Apple Stakes.

A third-generation product of Patricia and Frank Generazio’s breeding program, Disco Partner was foaled at Keane Stud[3] in Amenia.  The grey is out of Lulu’s Number (Numerous), a New Jersey-bred multiple winner of over $200,000 trained by Ben Perkins, Jr. Disco Partner’s second dam Mary Lou’s Magic (Concord Dream) was bred in Florida and trained by Frank.

As a broodmare, Lulu’s Number has produced five winners from seven starters, including Don Six’s Number (Don Six), a stakes performer and earner of $212,686. Lulu’s Number has yearling colt by First Samurai and foaled another colt by Into Mischief on May 20, 2087.

The Jaipur repeat on Saturday brings Disco Partner’s earnings to $1,153,810, making him the second New York-bred to attain millionaire status during the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Fourstar Crook reached the goal on Friday with her victory in the Grade 2 New York Stakes[4].

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/06/09/disco-partner-jaipur-2018/

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