Aqueduct: Pumpkin Pie, Dwyer Recaps

Posted On 09 Nov 2025

Weigh the Risks eats up competition in Listed Pumpkin Pie

By Brian Bohl

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Klaravich Stables’ Weigh the Risks showed the same form in the fall that she did over the summer, building on a dominant victory at Saratoga Race Course when benefitting from jockey Manny Franco’s patient ride and outkicking a stubborn Patricia Ann to post a 1 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s Listed $150,000 Pumpkin Pie at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Pumpkin Pie, a seven-furlong sprint for filles 3-years-old and up that was rescheduled from October 31 after inclement weather canceled that card, saw Weigh the Risks back in action for the first time since besting allowance company by 7 3/4 lengths on July 23 at the Spa. The 4-year-old Mendelssohn chestnut broke sharp from the outermost post 7 and tracked in third position as Volleyballprincess led the seven-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in 22.51 seconds and the half in 45.28 on the fast main track.

In the turn, Franco confidently urged Weigh the Risks from the outside, overtaking Patricia Ann and Volleyballprincess. Entering the stretch, Franco set down his charge for home, though rider Kendrick Carmouche kept Patricia Ann determined from the inside as three-quarters were clocked in 1:09.55. Weigh the Risks would not be deterred, hitting the wire in 1:22.22 to register her fifth win in 12 starts for five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown.

Patricia Ann, trained by Carlos Martin, finished a half-length clear of a hard-charging Scalable for second, with Nic’s Style finishing fourth. St. Benedicts Prep, Taliesin and Volleyballprincess completed the order of finish. Maggy’s Palace was scratched.

Off as the 6-5 favorite, Weigh the Risks, bred in Kentucky by Porta Pia Stables, returned $4.68 on a $2 win bet. Her fourth win in her last five starts on dirt – with a runner-up effort in the Heavenly Prize Invitational in February at the Big A thrown into that mix – brought her career earnings to $369,321 with the winner’s share of $82,500 while improving her record to 12-5-2-0.

After her strong effort in the one-mile Heavenly Prize, Weigh the Risks returned to sprinting and registered her first career triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure with a 101 for her Saratoga win before another strong seven-furlong effort on Saturday.

“I had the outside post, so I used that advantage – she was traveling well, taking me the whole way around – I was loaded.” Franco said. “She was hanging on the left lead for a while but as soon as she switched leads, she gave me that other gear she has.

“I think she’s more dirt – she’s a lot more mature now and you can do whatever you want with her,” Franco added of the filly who made six of her first seven starts on turf.

Patricia Ann was a runner-up for a second consecutive race, matching her finish from September 27 here when she ran second to R Disaster in the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2 Gallant Bloom.

“No excuses – second best. I thought she ran her race,” Carmouche said. “She tried to fight back at the end, which was really good for her – she always does, but I thought the horse that beat us was best.

“When I moved at the three-eighths pole, I tried to get away from them but I never could get away from them – second best,” Carmouche continued.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack with a nine-race card, featuring the $150,000 Awad in Race 3. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.

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

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

Disco Time ultra-impressive to remain unbeaten in Listed Dwyer

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Juddmonte’s Kentucky homebred Disco Time was ultra-impressive when improving his record to 5-for-5 in Saturday’s Listed $200,000 Dwyer, a one-turn mile for sophomores, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by dual Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, the Not This Time dark bay entered from a pacesetting 5 1/2-length score in the 1 1/16-mile St. Louis Derby on September 19 at Fairmount Park, which came off a layoff dating to a rallying victory in the Grade 3 Lecomte at third asking in January at Fair Grounds.

On Saturday, Disco Time pressured the pace under Florent Geroux, who has been aboard for all five starts, en route to a dominant 9 3/4-length victory over Crudo. Disco Time, with the eye-catching victory, validated his last out performance that earned a career-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

“An amazing horse. The sky is the limit for him,” Geroux said. “He ran a very fast speed figure last time off the layoff, so the connections gave him plenty of time to recover from that effort. Today, he was back with a bang again – a very exciting horse for the future.”

Disco Time exited post 2 and was bumped by Tip Top Thomas, but still tracked that rival, who went to the lead from the inside post and set an opening quarter-mile of 22.27 seconds over the fast main track.

Disco Time remained outside of the Hall of Famer John Velazquez-piloted Tip Top Thomas down the backside with Crudo sitting in third position under Kendrick Carmouche and Stars and Stripes the trailer through the half-mile in 44.56. In the turn, Disco Time went clear of the early pacesetter with little movement from Geroux to mark three-quarters in 1:08.78.

“I thought the horse to beat was definitely Tip Top Thomas – I wanted to make sure I keep a close eye on him,” said Geroux. “On the backside, I was cruising and Johnny on the turn was already asking his horse for a little bit more and I was just cruising. He was feeling great – it looked super impressive on TV and felt amazing on his back.”

Once straightened for home, Disco Time kicked on and the race was decided then, quickly becoming a matter of what his margin of victory would be. Crudo ran on from third, but Disco Time was much the best in a final time of 1:33.86.

Tip Top Thomas finished another five lengths back in third and Stars and Stripes completed the order of finish. Dream On and Light Forever were scratched.

“Very impressive,” said Dustin Dugas, Belmont Park-based assistant to Cox. “Florent 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 was very confident in his horse and the horse looked very confident in himself,” added Dugas.

Carmouche said the Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher-trained Crudo was game in his return to dirt off a pair of fourths in turf stakes. Pletcher also sent out Tip Top Thomas.

“The horse ran good,” said Carmouche. “We were just second best today. With a little more distance, you’ll get that much better out of him. I thought he ran good, overall.”

Disco Time is out of the Grade 2-placed Pennsylvania-bred Jump Start mare Disco Chick, who banked $735,250 through a 42-10-14-6 ledger. He earned $110,000 in victory while returning $4.44 for a $2 win bet as the post-time favorite.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack with a nine-race card, featuring the $150,000 Awad in Race 3. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.

-30-

Contact: Christian Abdo