Only a series of fine saves from keeper Stephen Grindlay saved Dumbarton from a much heavier defeat as Ayr attacked at will for long stages.
It took 17 minutes for the first goal to arrive when Boyd turned his man at the edge of the box and sent in a deflected shot which spun in over the head of the unlucky Grindlay.
After the break it was all Ayr, and Grindlay did well to tip over a shot from Frenchman Jerome Vareille.
The keeper came into his own with a superb one-handed save from Paul Hyslop as the lurking Chris Robertson waited at the back post.
Grindlay's best effort came after 54 minutes when he magnificently pushed a goalbound shot from Roberstson past the post.
Dumbarton hit back but Craig Brittain headed over at the back post and Mark Dempsie saw a header saved under the bar.
However, Ayr hit a second goal after 74 minutes. Skipper Raymond Logan headed back across the goal from Douglas Ramsey and Wardlaw arrived at the back post to bundle the ball home.
Ayr almost added a third, but substitute Ian Cashmore's rocket shot whistled just past the post.