Twenty Six Black scoots down the rail. (Chelsea Durand)
By Mary Eddy
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Roger Cimbora, Jr.’s New York homebred Twenty Six Black notched his first stakes victory with an off-the-pace rally in Sunday’s inaugural running of the restricted Listed $135,000 Disco Partner, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up who have not won a graded stake in 2024-25, at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Horacio De Paz, the 5-year-old War Dancer gelding entered from a game second to Bring Theband Home in the Grade 2 Troy over course and distance on August 3 with Flavien Prat aboard, and landed his first victory in five starts since a one-length optional claiming coup in September at Belmont at the Big A.
“His disposition has always been a horse that wants to try. He’s built like a tank,” DePaz said. “He’s always had a good mind on him, and the mare has thrown nothing but runners, and they continue to get better as they get older.
“Prat didn’t think the pace was going to be too fast, so he sat close,” De Paz added. “He knows him now – he had full faith in him.”
With Prat back in the irons, Twenty Six Black emerged from post 5-of-7 and sat closer to the pace than usual as Outlaw Kid took advantage of a sharp start to arrest the lead from Step Forward to his outside and mark the opening quarter-mile in 22.41 seconds over the firm footing.
“I was worried about the pace scenario,” Prat said. “He broke running and I was able to get him into the race. I tipped him out and he made a good run.”
Dancing Buck followed Outlaw Kid along the rail with Twenty Six Black in the three-path as the field rounded the turn before Outlaw Kid attempted to kick clear from the pursuing Step Forward. Prat shook his reins once straightened for home and Twenty Six Black responded with gusto, edging clear of the embattled duo of Dancing Buck and Step Forward and matching strides with Outlaw Kid as the half-mile elapsed in 45.22.
The Junior Alvarado-piloted Bold Journey, who traveled behind Twenty Six Black early, hit the clear as he made a late bid with giant strides down the center of the course, but Twenty Six Black was long gone as he put away Outlaw Kid and drew off in the final sixteenth to score by 2 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:01.43.
Bold Journey got his head down over Outlaw Kid for second with Step Forward rounding out the superfecta. Big Invasion, Dancing Buck and the slow-starting Eamonn completed the order of finish. Doncho, Alogon, Works for Me and the main track-only entrant Burninhunkoflove were scratched.
Prat said Twenty Six Black tipped his hand last out that he was a quality horse.
“I really thought he ran a good race last time and was second to a very good horse,” Prat said. “Obviously, we didn’t have to run against him today. I thought this was a race I could possibly win, and he did.”
De Paz said Twenty Six Black could stretch out for the six-furlong Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint on September 27 at Belmont at the Big A next.
“I think that would be the logical spot,” De Paz said. “I always thought six furlongs would probably be a little bit better for him – six-to-seven – we’ll keep him local.”
Twenty Six Black is out of the First Dude mare Brazo de Oro, who also produced the stakes-placed De Paz trainee Can’t Fool Me for Cimbora, Jr. The bay gelding banked $74,250 in victory while improving his record to 15-6-4-1 and returning $4.60 on a $2 win ticket.
Alvarado said the New York-bred Bold Journey, a graded stakes-winner on dirt, was valiant in defeat for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
“I had a great trip. I was sitting right behind the winner, probably like a length and a half back. Saved ground,” Alvarado said. “When I asked him to go, he ran on, he was running down to the wire, but the horse who won was probably much the best today. But you know, second best was great for us today.”
Live racing resumes on Monday for Closing Day of the Saratoga summer meet with an 11-race card, featuring the Grade 1 Spendthrift Farm Hopeful in Race 9 and the Listed Saranac in Race 10. First post is 12:05 p.m. Eastern.
