AMSTERDAM (G2) RELEASE: Monday, August 2, 2010

Monday, August 2, 2010

 

DISCREETLY MINE CLEARLY BEST IN AMSTERDAM

 

By Jenny Kellner

 

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Discreetly Mine stalked speedy early fractions set by Essence Hit Man and went on to score an eye-catching 8 ¾-length victory Monday afternoon in the Grade 2, $150,000 Amsterdam at Saratoga Race Course.

 

The 3-year-old Mineshaft colt, ridden by John Velazquez, stayed close behind Essence Hit Man as he sped through an opening quarter in 21.45 and a half-mile in 44.07. Barreling up alongside the pacesetter on the turn, Discreetly Mine hit the three-quarters of a mile mark in 1:07.76, and then romped through the stretch to hit the wire in 1:14.27.

 

"The way he was rolling, I thought he was going to threaten Quality Road's track record there for a second," said trainer Todd Pletcher, who last year saddled Quality Road to a record-breaking Amsterdam win in 1:13.74. "It worked out perfectly, he broke really well and stalked the main speed and looked like he was there when needed."

 

Owned by E. Paul Robsham Stables, Discreetly Mine broke his maiden last summer at Saratoga, and next finished second in the Grade 2 Futurity and Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park. Embarking on the 2010 Triple Crown trail, he won the Grade 2 Risen Star at Louisiana Downs, finished fourth in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, and then was a distant 13^th in the Kentucky Derby. Pletcher subsequently shortened him up to finish second in Belmont Park's Grade 2 Woody Stephens at seven furlongs and on to win the Grade 3 Jersey Shore at Monmouth Park at six furlongs on July 4.

 

"To watch him train all winter, I really felt like we were on the Derby trail in a legitimate way," said Pletcher. "The way he trained and galloped out I thought he might be able to do it, but now that we've backed up in distance he's obviously found his niche."

 

The 3-5 favorite in the field of nine, Discreetly Mine returned $3.20 for a $2 win bet as he improved his record to 4-4-0 from 12 starts. With the winner's purse of $90,000, he has now earned $649,350 and will likely be pointed toward the Grade 1 King's Bishop at seven furlongs on Travers Day, Saturday, August 28.

 

"The King's Bishop is an obvious possible next start; we'll see how he comes out of it," said Pletcher. "We'd certainly be thinking about the Breeders' Cup Sprint at this point, but that's a ways away so we'll see how he bounces out of this and go from there."

 

Essence Hit Man, ridden by Chantal Sutherland, held for second, 1 ½ lengths in front of In Jack's Memory. Following him under the wire were Latigo Shore, Rule by Night, Safe Trip, Backtrack, Make Note, and General Maximus. Catalan was scratched.

 

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