NEWS
Discreetly Mine aims for more sprint success in Amsterdam
Posted: Friday, July 30, 2010 6:04 PM
DISCREETLY MINE
Lou Hodges Jr. photo
by Frank Angst
After securing a clear victory in the Jersey Shore Stakes (G3) on July 4 at Monmouth Park, Discreetly Mine will try for a second straight graded stakes win when he faces up to nine other three-year-olds in the $150,000 Amsterdam Stakes (G2) on Monday at Saratoga Race Course.
After finishing 13th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), Discreetly Mine has focused on sprinting. The Mineshaft colt finished second to D’ Funnybone in the Woody Stephens Stakes (G2) on June 5 at Belmont Park before posting a 1 ¼-length victory in the six-furlong Jersey Shore.
Trainer Todd Pletcher, who won last year’s Amsterdam with Quality Road, will saddle Discreetly Mine in Monday’s 6½-furlong Amsterdam. Pletcher said sprinting is the plan for now but added that plan could change for Discreetly Mine, who won the 1 1/16-mile Risen Star Stakes (G2) in February at Fair Grounds.
“He’s the kind of horse that does a lot of things well,” Pletcher said. “His last two races sprinting have been good. That’s not to say we won’t stretch him out down the road, but hopefully this will be a springboard to the King’s Bishop [Stakes (G1) on August 28 at Saratoga].”
The third-place finisher from the Jersey Shore, Safe Trip, will test Discreetly Mine for a second straight time. Before the race at Monmouth, the Tale of the Cat gelding won a maiden special weight race and an optional claiming race at Churchill Downs by a combined 8½ lengths.
Frank Angst is senior writer for Thoroughbred Times
