Disco Partner easily handles mile in Forbidden Apple Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Already proven to be a high-class turf sprinter, Disco Partner demonstrated on Saturday at Belmont Park that he can be equally as effective – if not quite as fast – going a mile.

After saving ground for six furlongs, Disco Partner was tipped three-wide by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. turning for home and the 5-year-old gray horse motored past King Kreesa just above the eighth pole to win the $150,000 Forbidden Apple Stakes by 3 1/4 lengths at Belmont Park.

Get Jets rallied to win a three-horse photo for second by a neck over Bondurant, who bested King Kreesa by a head for third. Offering Plan, Cerise’s Prince and Grand Arch completed the order of finish.

Disco Partner was making his first start since winning the Grade 3 Japuir here on June 10, a race in which he set a North American turf record of 1:05.67 for six furlongs. He had won going seven furlongs, but lost in his only start beyond that distance.

Trainer Christophe Clement was confident Disco Partner could handle the mile and he certainly had no issue especially given the perfect trip he received under Ortiz.

Ortiz had Disco Partner sitting in the second flight, inside of Grand Arch, while King Kreesa – winner of the last two Forbidden Apples – and Cerise’s Prince battled up front through a quarter in 23.91 seconds and a half-mile in 46.84.

Ortiz guided Disco Partner into the clear after six furlongs in 1:10.10 and he exploded by King Kreesa in midstretch.

“For some reason, I thought the Jaipur was more impressive to watch but he won well today,” Clement said. “Irad always had plenty of horse to do it.”

Disco Partner, a son of Disco Rico owned and bred by Frank and Patricia Generazio, covered a mile in 1:33.49 and returned $4.80 as the favorite.

The turf courses were labeled firm, but the clods of grass being kicked up in the air gave the indication it was softer than firm.

“Last time the track was very hard, today it was a little soft but he didn’t mind,” said Ortiz, who broke an 0-for-31 skid with the Forbidden Apple victory.

Clement said the options for Disco Partner – who is not nominated to the Breeders’ Cup – include the Troy at six furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 6; the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave going a mile at Saratoga on Aug. 12, or the Grade 1, $800,000 Woodbine Mile on Sept. 16.