Disco Time leads all the way in St. Louis Derby
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Disco Time remained unbeaten in four starts Friday, when he won in his first out since January in the $250,000 St. Louis Derby at Fairmount Park.
He set the pace en route to a 5 1/2-length win over Hypnus, while it was another 2 1/2 lengths back in third to Excite.
The St. Louis Derby went with a field of eight after the scratches Chunk of Gold and Brotha Keny, who are expected to run Saturday at Churchill Downs in the Bourbon Fight, and Admiral Dennis.
Disco Time ($4) broke sharply from his rail post and proceeded to set the pace in the 1 1/16-mile race, leading through an opening quarter in 23.87 seconds, a half-mile in 47.42, and six furlongs in 1:11.51. Excite took up the chase into the far turn, and Hypnus moved past Excite from there, but there was no catching Disco Time. He was strong through the wire while covering the distance on a track rated fast in 1:43.87.
“He broke like a shot,” winning rider Florent Geroux said in a post-race interview broadcast by Fairmount Park. “From there, he put me in a great spot.”
Brad Cox trains Disco Time, who was making his first start since winning the Grade 3 Lecomte on Jan. 18 at Fair Grounds. Prior to that race, he won a maiden special weight sprint and a first-level allowance at a mile, both at Churchill Downs in November.
Cox said earlier this week that Disco Time was given a break in February. He wanted a two-turn comeback race for the horse and landed on the St. Louis Derby.
Disco Time is a son of Not This Time and the mare Disco Chick, a four-time stakes winner who overall won 10 races and earned $735,250. Disco Time races for his breeder, Juddmonte.
Geroux has been aboard Disco Time for all of his starts. The horse shipped into Fairmount Park from Churchill.
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