Disco Star on her toes heading into $150K NYSSS Cupecoy’s Joy

Disco Star, following a pair of close third-place stakes finishes, will look to pick up winning black type for the first time in Saturday’s $150,000 Cupecoy’s Joy Division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for eligible New York-sired sophomore fillies, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse for owner Peter Deutsch, the New York-bred Disco Star is a daughter of her breeder Patricia Generazio’s popular grey New York-homebred Disco Partner, who won the 2017 Grade 3 Jaipur and again the following year when it was a Grade 2 as part of a millionaire career for the late Christophe Clement that included a pair of third-place finishes in the 2017-18 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Disco Star, also a grey, graduated at third asking with a 4 3/4-length score in a state-bred maiden in October over course and distance at Belmont at the Big A. She commenced her current campaign at Gulfstream Park when seventh to the Casse-trained Nitrogen in the one-mile Listed Ginger Brew.

However, since returning to sprinting for her last two starts, Disco Star has demonstrated her true talent beginning with a half-length third to returning rival Storm Changer in the NYSSS Park Avenue traveling 6 1/2-furlongs over a muddy and sealed Big A main track on April 13.

Last out, she faced open company in the six-furlong Take the A Train on May 10 at Belmont at the Big A, closing from last-of-9 and seven lengths off the pace under regular pilot Dylan Davis to finish a three-quarter length third to the victorious Love Cervere.

She has worked back twice, including a half-mile in company in 49.35 seconds on June 5, over the Saratoga Race Course main track.

“She’s doing great,” said Casse assistant Shane Tripp. “That’s a pretty good work for her. I thought she ran hard [last time]. She’s real honest. She’s definitely a come-from-behind sprinter on the grass and everything’s got to shape up for her there, but Dylan gets along really good with her, and her maiden win last fall was so impressive. I think she’s filled out and matured as a 3-year-old and she’s a New York-bred, so she’ll definitely be able to make a living.”

Disco Star, out of the Sky Mesa mare Sky Gazer, is a half-sister to stakes winners Saratoga Treasure and April Gaze. The $75,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale purchase has banked $117,750 via a 6-1-2-2 record.

Davis retains the mount from the outermost post 5.

Storm Changer [post 1, Jose Gomez] rallied from sixth to win the aforementioned Park Avenue at odds of 12-1 with Carlos Martin training for then suspended conditioner Dimitrios Synnefias.

The Peter Kazamias New York homebred daughter of Name Changer is set to make her turf debut. She graduated at first asking in a state-bred maiden in November at the Big A and was a close second to a streaking Bernieandtherose in the state-bred East View in February.

Storm Changer is out of the unraced Stormy Atlantic mare Stormin Sistas, a half-sister to dual turf stakes-winner Sirenusa. 

Rounding out the field are stakes-placed Boston’s Phinest [post 3, Javier Castellano] for trainer Bruce Brown; recent state-bred optional-claiming winner Mischief Lady [post 2, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] for trainer Edward Barker; and maiden winner Royal Event [post 4, Katie Davis] for conditioner Carlos Martin.

The NYSSS Cupecoy’s Joy is slated as Race 2 on Saturday’s 10-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

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