OLDSMAR, Fla. – Disco Time will try to bounce back from his first career defeat in the Pegasus World Cup while Disruptor will look to claim his first stakes victory when the two head a field of seven entered in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
Disco Time, trained by Brad Cox, had won his first five career starts – including three stakes – and was sent off the 3-2 favorite in a field of 12 for the Pegasus. Breaking from the rail, Disco Time got involved in a speed duel, which took its toll as he backed up and finished eighth behind Skippylongstocking, beaten 11 1/4 lengths. Though not entered this year, Skippylongstocking has won the last three Challengers, including in 2024 when he came here after finishing last in the Pegasus World Cup.
“Probably a little too pumped up prior to the race,” Cox said about Disco Time’s effort in the Pegasus. “Obviously, did a little too much too early in the race, wasn’t able to stay on. He came out of it good, been breezing phenomenal. I’d like to give him one more run. I’m not certain what his future is. I think he’s a horse if all went well and we could string a couple of races together maybe the Met Mile.”
Disruptor, fifth in the 2025 Florida Derby, came off a nine-month layoff to win a first-level allowance race going seven furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs. Little Thunder, the runner-up in that race, came back to win an allowance with a 91 Beyer Speed Figure in his next start.
“Thought it was a very good comeback, we didn’t have him fully cranked up and he won pretty well, and the horse he beat came back and won pretty impressively,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.
Disruptor breaks from the rail under Irad Ortiz Jr., while Disco Time leaves from post 2 under Flavien Prat.
Solo Venturi enters the Challenger off a 2 1/4-length allowance win going 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 16 at Gulfstream, a performance for which he earned a 97 Beyer. Batten Down, third as the favorite in that race, came back to win the 1 1/2-mile Pig Trail Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Sunday by 8 1/4 lengths, earning a career-best 99 Beyer.
Racing Driver comes out of a fourth-place finish behind Knightsbridge in the Fred Hooper. Knightsbridge came back to dominate the Gulfstream Park Mile last weekend.
Manatee Handicap
Mystic Lake will be heavily favored to keep her unbeaten Tampa Bay Downs record intact when she runs in the $70,000 Manatee Overnight Handicap at seven furlongs.
Mystic Lake, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., is 12 for 22 overall but 3 for 3 at Tampa. Last month, she won the Minaret Stakes by 7 1/2 lengths, taking advantage of a bad break from the other expected speed in the race, Ms. Bucchero. Mystic Lake previously won the Gasparilla Stakes in January 2024 and the Sophomore Fillies Stakes in March 2024. All three of her wins here have come at seven furlongs.
Mystic Lake will have to carry high weight of 125 pounds, spotting six to 10 pounds to her six rivals.
The New York-bred My Magic Wand came off a seven-month layoff to run third in an open-company allowance race Jan. 22 at Aqueduct. Three of the six horses to have run back out of that race won their next starts, including With the Angels, who won that allowance and then took the Correction Stakes by 4 1/2 lengths last Saturday at Aqueduct.
“We got her out of New York because of the weather,” trainer Gregg Sacco said. “We didn’t have a spot picked out for her. Saffie’s filly looks tough, but our filly is doing very well and expect a real good race out of her.”
John Velazquez, who is 2 for 2 on My Magic Wand, reunites with the filly in this spot.
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