Joseph Dirico’s Dr Disco
breezed four furlongs over the Belmont
Park training track
Sunday morning under exercise rider Jimmy Pantina, completing his final work
for next Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Toboggan in 50.06.
“It was good,” said trainer Bruce Brown. “He breezed
today, so he’ll work tomorrow and then gallop into the race. I might, at
some point, stand him in the gate, but he’s pretty good.”
A New York-bred son of Disco Rico, the 4-year-old exits a six-furlong,
inner-track optional claiming victory on January 2 and will make his graded
stakes debut in the Toboggan. After coming up a length short to General Maximus
in the Posse Hudson on New York Showcase Day at Belmont, Dr Disco came back to
win the six-furlong Vodka overnight stakes on the inner track December 4. Five
of the colt’s six career victories have come over the inner track.
“He’s really surprised me all along,” admitted Brown.
“He never, ever has shown me much in the morning. I was surprised when he
ran good early on, and even now, breezing, he does just enough. He never does
too much in the morning. This has all been a surprise. He’s really kind
of moved forward as he’s gotten older and he’s just turned four
now.”
* * *
Nicole H was
another completing her preparations for next weekend’s stakes races, breezing
an easy half-mile over the training track in 50.17 as she points for the
$100,000, six-furlong Correction.
“I liked what I saw,” said Mike Hushion, who trains the
mare for Gem, Inc. “She’s on track for next weekend.”
A 5-year-old daughter of Mr. Greeley, Nicole H exits a repeat victory
in the Interborough Stakes over the inner track on January 1. Last winter,
Nicole H strung together three victories at the Big A, starting with the
Garland of Roses in December 2010, followed by the Interborough and the 2011
running of the Grade 2 Distaff Handicap on the main track April 16.
Nicole H has won four of her last five, with her sole defeat being a
nose loss to It’s Me Mom in the Robert O’Malley in October at
Suffolk Downs. Since the O’Malley, It’s Me Mom has added three
victories, including a 6 ¾-length runaway score in yesterday’s Sunshine
Millions Filly & Mare Sprint at Gulfstream
Park.
“We thought we were going to Suffolk for a soft spot,” said Hushion.
“Think again.”