Disco Partner to be freshened for 2018 campaign

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Disco Partner, beaten just a half-length when third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 4 at Del Mar, was held out of Saturday’s inaugural running of the $125,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship. He will be given a freshening and pointed to a 2018 campaign that could include the Dubai Turf Sprint, according to trainer Christophe Clement.

“The race is three weeks from the Breeders’ Cup, I had a small question mark on his well being, and we thought it was not worth it,” Clement, who trains Disco Partner for Frank and Patricia Generazio, said in explaining the decision to skip Saturday’s race.

Disco Partner, who won the Belmont Turf Sprint in October, would have been heavily favored in the Aqueduct Turf Sprint, which drew a field of 11 for the turf and two more if the race was moved to the dirt.

Clement will still be represented by White Flag, who won the Allied Forces at Belmont in the fall before finishing third in the Grade 2 Nearctic at Woodbine last month.

Bucchero, who finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, was entered in the Aqueduct Turf Sprint and drew post 11. He was beaten only a length in the Breeders’ Cup. Prior to that, he won the Grade 2 Woodford at Keeneland.

Ready for Rye, entered in Thursday’s Fall Highweight Handicap on dirt, was cross-entered in this race.