EL’s Disco Johnny and LeMoyne “Mooney” Svendsen scored an upset in optional claiming action Tuesday, May 17 at Running Aces. The Indiana sired four-year-old horse scored his fourth win of the season in the event.
EL’s Disco Johnny made his Minnesota debut a winning effort for LeMoyne “Mooney” Svendsen Tuesday, May 17 at Running Aces.
Starting from post four, EL’s Disco Johnny got a good seat behind Caliber and Luke Plano out of the gate. Caliber set fractions of :27.2 and :56.1 as EL’s Disco Johnny tracked his every move. Caliber picked up the pace down the backside the second time, passing the three-quarters in 1:24.0. Allmyx’sliventexas and Nick Roland started the outer flow and moved up heading into the turn, but Caliber and EL’s Disco Johnny were strong on the front.
In the stretch, EL’s Disco Johnny tipped to the inside and challenged Caliber’s authority on the front end, getting to the wire first in 1:52.4, pacing home in :28.3. Caliber was a solid second over Zanetti and Rick Magee for third.
EL’s Disco Johnny was a surprise winner, paying $27.20 for the win. The Always a Virgin horse is owned by Jose Cervantes and trained by Maria Alvarez, who also trains Caliber. Elmer Yoder bred EL’s Disco Johnny, who has been owned by Cervantes since last summer. It was the first career start at Running Aces for EL’s Disco Johnny, who was racing out east at both Yonkers and The Meadowlands under the direction of trainer Williams Hernandez before shipping to Minnesota and joining the Alvarez barn. EL’s Disco Johnny now has eight wins in 41 starts with earnings of more than $75,000. His best time was taken earlier this year in 1:52.0 at The Meadowlands.
EL’s Disco Johnny was a $7,000 purchase from the Michiana Classic Yearling Sale. He is the latest foal out of Lisbellaw, who is a near 100 percent producer with two six-figure winners in Ballinrobe (1:51.0, $300,000) and Big Lis (1:53.1, $105,000). Lisbellaw is the granddaughter of the standout broodmare Lismore, who is the dam of greats such as Curragh (1:51.4, $500,000), Albert Albert (1:52.1, $1.2 million), Lisryan (1:52.0, $550,000) and Lisheen (1:52.3, $518,000), just to name a few.