By J.N. Campbell
Looking every ounce a favorite in the Dwyer Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday, Disco Time (Not This Time) boogied with the confidence of a seasoned dance-off pro and got the top prize to stay perfect.
The colt began his career a little over a year ago at Churchill Downs where he debuted a winner by 3 3/4 lengths, then the dark bay successfully tackled optional claimers over the same dirt course at the end of the month. Taking a break as a late juvenile, Disco Time emerged at Fair Grounds Jan. 18 and won the GIII Lecomte Stakes by a neck. The 3-year-old missed the rest of the Derby and Triple Crown Trails and was not seen until the St. Louis Derby at Fairmount Park Sept. 19, where he posted a 5 1/2-length score.
Shipped to Belmont from Brad Cox's base in Louisville, Disco Time was well-supported at the windows as the 6-5 choice here. The chalk tracked 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Tip Top Thomas (Volatile) up the backstretch. Given his cue before the far turn, the son of Not This Time put the moves on the leader and sailed right by. Disco Time proceeded to dominate the dance floor down the lane and earned a 107 Beyer for his effort.
“Very impressive,” said Brad Cox assistant Dustin Dugas. “Florent [Geroux] knows the horse very well and he timed everything really well. He didn't let Tip Top Thomas get away. They were rolling. When he asked him to go, he went and there was nothing left to guess about.
“They were going quick, but the way he was sitting outside of him–Florent said he was comfortable the entire way,” he said. “He was very confident in his horse and the horse looked very confident in himself. A very nice horse. He shipped into Belmont well on Thursday and trained over at Belmont on Friday in really good shape. He shipped here on his toes and didn't really miss a beat.”
The winner's dam is responsible for a weanling filly by Yaupon and she was bred to Justify for next term. Juddmonte purchased the four-time stakes winner and graded-placed Disco Chick for $180,000 at the 2018 Keeneland January sale and her first two foals were by the late Arrogate. This dam went for $35,000 during Keeneland November in 2022.
DWYER S., $186,000, Aqueduct, 11-8, 3yo, 1m, 1:33.86, ft.
1–DISCO TIME, 122, c, 3, by Not This Time
1st Dam: Disco Chick (MSW & GSP, $735,250),
by Jump Start
2nd Dam: Disco Flirt, by Disco Rico
3rd Dam: Survey, by Allen's Prospect
O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent Geroux. $110,000. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-5-0-0, $551,960.
2–Crudo, 120, c, 3, Justify–Blossomed, by Deputy Minister. ($350,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $520,000 RNA Ylg '23 FTSAUG). O-Flay, Bobby and Ventura, James; B-Orpendale/Chelston/ Wynatt (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $40,000.
3–Tip Top Thomas, 122, c, 3, Volatile–Attempt to Name, by Consolidator. ($160,000 Ylg '23 FTKOCT). O-Bakke, James J. and Isbister, Gerald; B-Wynnstay Inc., Donna Moore & Jim Richardson (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $24,000.
Margins: 9 3/4, 5, NO. Odds: 1.22, 9.97, 2.24.
Also Ran: Stars and Stripes. Scratched: Dream On, Light Forever.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
The undefeated streak is Stayin' Alive! 🪩 DISCO TIME is now 5-for-5 after dominating the Dwyer Stakes under @flothejock for trainer @bradcoxracing. pic.twitter.com/XMHU3X2clR
— NYRA (🗽) (@TheNYRA) November 8, 2025
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