Disco Partner cruises to Belmont Turf Sprint repeat

ELMONT, N.Y. – In a performance his trainer Christophe Clement compared to a morning workout, Disco Partner earned himself a return trip to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint by cruising to a 4 1/2-length victory in Saturday’s $150,000 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational.

It was the second straight year that Disco Partner won this race. Last year, he finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar. He will now be pointed to his third consecutive Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, this one on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs.

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Disco Partner won with style as jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. never resorted to his whip. He broke on top, was taken back to fourth by Ortiz, saved ground before being tipped out turning for home. When Ortiz asked Disco Partner to run, he danced past Pure Sensation and then was hand-ridden to the wire.

“He was very impressive,” Clement said. “I know he didn’t beat the best sprinters in the country, but it was like a morning workout for him.”

Disco Partner, a 6-year-old son of Disco Rico owned and bred by Patricia and Frank Generazio, covered the six furlongs in 1:08.50 over an inner turf course labeled good and returned $4.20 as the even-money favorite.

“He broke on top of these horses, after that I took a long hold and he come back to me so good,” Ortiz said. “I smooched to him a little at the three-eighths pole, and he go right away. I said 'Let me wait.' I know he’s a nice horse and he always shows up, but I want to save something for the big race.”

Disco Partner doesn’t run his best on soft turf, but Clement thought with the rails down, that part of the turf was in good condition.

“I thought at worst the ground was good and not soft, and on good ground I’m okay,” Clement said. “He did not have too hard of a race, which is great. We kept some juice in the tank and go to the Breeders’ Cup.”

While Disco Partner is definitely headed to Churchill for the Turf Sprint, Clement said it is possible that Pure Sensation could go as well. The Turf Sprint is at 5 1/2 furlongs this year, a distance that may suit him.

Of Pure Sensation’s performance Saturday, Clement said “I thought he ran okay. On that ground, six is the end of the world because we used him a little bit.”

Clement said if the turf is firm in Kentucky he would recommend to the Generazios to run both horses in the Turf Sprint.