by Jeff Lowe

Grade 1 winner Discreet Cat has not resumed a regular training schedule since returning to the United States on May 17.

Rick Mettee, the New York-based assistant to Godolphin Racing trainer Saeed bin Suroor, said Discreet Cat is still healing from the abscess found in his throat following a last-place finish in the Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) on March 31.

“He’s just tack-walking, probably for another couple more weeks before we’ll start taking him to the track,” Mettee said. “Obviously, we’re looking late summer for him [to return to the races].”

Discreet Cat, who won the Hill ‘n’ Dale Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) in his final start before being sent to Dubai, is one of 18 horses in the Godolphin string at Belmont Park.

Nashua Stakes (G3) winner Day Pass and United Arab Emirates Oaks winner Folk are back at Belmont after finishing off the board in the United Arab Emirates Derby (UAE-G2) on the World Cup undercard.

Other three-year-olds in the barn include unbeaten allowance winner Minefield and maiden winner Blue Sky God, who both were purchased privately late last year.
 
Mettee said 2006 Fall Highweight Handicap winner Afrashad and Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes (Eng-G1) winner Court Masterpiece (GB) both are in Kentucky on the way back from extended breaks.

Songster, who won the Bold Ruler Handicap (G3) at Pimlico Race Course in his 2007 debut, is a candidate for either the Tom Fool Handicap (G2) on July 4 at Belmont or Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G2) on July 28 at Saratoga Race Course.

“We’re trying to space his races out this year; that’s why we didn’t bring him back in the True North [Handicap (G2)] on Saturday, and we have Council Member in that race,” Mettee said.

Council Member won a six-furlong allowance/optional claiming race in his North American debut on May 10 at Belmont. The five-year-old Seattle Slew horse finished second in a pair of Group 2 sprints in England.

Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer