Aqueduct: Dr Disco, Swag Daddy use different tactics in New York-bred stakes wins

Dr Disco his used his potent speed while Swag Daddy used a powerful late kick to win stakes races restricted to New York-breds Sunday at Aqueduct.

In the $60,000 Vodka Stakes for sprinters, Dr Disco broke alertly under jockey Mike Luzzi, established and maintained a one-length lead through a quarter in 23.73 seconds and a half-mile in 46.72 and continued clear through the stretch to win by one length. Law Enforcement, last turning for home, rallied to get up for second by three-quarters of a length over Pretty Boy Freud.

Uncle T Seven, Wee Freudian, Bandbox, and Dahlgren Chapel completed the order of finish.

Dr Disco covered six furlongs in 1:10.48 and returned $5.50 as a slight second choice behind Bandbox, who in his first start since March had a troubled trip as he was forced to steady often down the backside.

Dr Disco, a son of Disco Rico owned and bred by Joseph DiRico and trained by Bruce Brown, is now 4 for 5 over Aqueduct’s inner track.

“He really likes this track because of the tight turns and he can kind of skim the rail and get around there,’’ Brown said. “That’s his game. We’ve tried to rate him before, but he’s the best on the lead and that’s usually the name of the game on the inner track.’’

Dr Disco should have a fun winter in sprint stakes on the inner track against either New York-bred or open company.

“If he’s not already an open company type of horse, he’s not far from it,’’ Brown said.

In the $65,000 Damon Runyon for New York-bred 2-year-old males, Swag Daddy rallied five wide down the center of the inner track and got up in the final jump to nip Pretension by a head. It was one-half length back to Disco On in third.

Swag Daddy was ridden by Junior Alvarado, who won four races on Sunday’s card and finished the opening week of the inner track with a meet-leading 11 victories. Alvarado also won Saturday’s Garland of Roses for owner Eric Fein and trainer Richard Dutrow Jr., the same connections associated with Swag Daddy.

Swag Daddy broke a little slow and was last, but never more than four lengths off the lead and he was saving ground down the backside.

Alvarado guided him to the outside turning for home and came with a determined run to wear down Pretension, who first battled Think I’m Hooked on the lead before being confronted by Disco On.

“It was a long race, and I wanted to save ground, but at the same time, I had to go outside because they told me that the horse doesn’t like to be inside too much,’’ Alvarado said. “By the half-mile pole, everybody was all packed right there and I had to wait a little bit longer to go back and then make a move. He could have won the race more easily if I’d had a better trip and a better position, but he still ran an unbelievable race.”

Swag Daddy, a son of Scat Daddy, covered the mile and 70 yards in 1:43.90 and returned $5.50 as the favorite.

Alvarado also won the first aboard Hoopskirt ($4.10), the fifth on Cass’ Lady ($6.60), and the seventh on American Buffalo ($6.70).