Disco T still going strong at Philadelphia

The Pennsylvania-bred Disco T should go favored in the best race of the day on Monday at Philadelphia Park, a second-level allowance at one mile, carded as race 9.

Also on Monday, Pennsylvania-bred 2-year-olds will go six furlongs in the $75,000 Parfaitment Stakes (race 4), a race that came up weak with just five entrants, four of them maidens. A companion $75,000 stakes for 2-year-old statebred fillies, the Channel Three, did not fill.

Disco T, 5, has run well in each of the last two editions of the $125,000 Smarty Jones Classic. He finished third as the 7-5 favorite in the 2008 Smarty Jones, and did well to overcome post 10 in this year's running of the restricted stakes by finishing second, beaten 3 1/2 lengths by three-time champion Delaware River. The 95 Beyer Speed Figure Disco T earned in that Sept. 19 race was the best of his 20-race career.

In addition, the Smarty Jones has turned out to be a key race. Fourth-place finisher Kudu came back to win the $75,000 Docent on Oct. 17, and the sixth-place horse, Movin' Out, captured a high-priced optional claimer in his next start, earning a 92 Beyer.

Like Disco T, Maryland shipper Sheila's Magic comes out of a race that produced two next-out winners. Sir Duncan, who finished a nose behind Sheila's Magic in a first-level allowance at Laurel on Oct. 2, returned to win at the same level two weeks later. The fourth-place finisher on Oct. 2, Classic Wildcat, came back to take a $25,000 claimer.

The field for the ninth race also includes East End Tap, who finally cleared his first allowance condition in his 13th attempt two starts ago, and Xtra Power, who needed 12 tries at the same level before winning in the slop two starts back.

w Sunshine Jamie, who wired $25,000 maiden claimers in the mud back, is the lone winner in the Parfaitment, but has not raced since late August.

The next-best Beyer belongs to El Flaco, a Penn National-based colt who has flashed high speed and weakened in two of his three starts.

Khayyam showed one good workout from the gate for his career debut in mid-October and may improve upon that dull performance with the addition of blinkers.