Godolphin Stable’s untested DISCREET CAT (Forestry) once again displayed his
dominant form when galloping past an overmatched field by 10 1/4 lengths to take
the $155,800 Jerome Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) at Belmont on Sunday. Breaking well
beneath Garrett Gomez, the incredible three-year-old found himself near the lead
early from his two post and once he got clear, it was evident that the rest of
the group was running for second. The classy colt was in front through splits of
:22 4/5, :45 4/5 and 1:11 for six furlongs, before eventually completing the one-mile contest over a good track in 1:36 2/5 without being asked. Trained by Saeed
bin Suroor, the incomparable bay was no secret at the windows where he went off
as the 1-20 choice, and he keyed the $6 exacta and $20.40 trifecta while paying
$2.10 for the win and place. There was no show wagering.
“Today, he was a little more ‘amped,'” Gomez said. “When I got to the
backside, he was doing it so easy and a couple of them couldn’t keep up.”
Valid Notebook (Notebook) moved into second turning for home and did well to
maintain the place while 7 1/2 lengths clear of his nearest pursuer. The 9-1
third choice paid $3 for the place. Nar (Northern Afleet) closed from off the
pace to garner third another 10 1/4 lengths clear at 5-2, and was trailed by
Quietly Go (Real Quiet) and Noonmark (Unbridled’s Song). Spring at Last (Silver
Deputy) was withdrawn.
Discreet Cat ran his mark to a perfect five-for-five, and upped his bankroll
to $1,374,180. The scarily-good colt previously captured the UAE Derby (G2).
Bred in Kentucky by E. Paul Robsham, the winner is out of the Private Account
mare Pretty Discreet, winner of the 1995 Alabama S. (G1) and second in that same
year’s Matron S. (G1) and Frizette S. (G1). As a broodmare, Pretty Discreet has
produced multiple Grade 1 placed stakes winner Pretty Wild (Wild Again), a
yearling colt named Discreet Treasure (El Prado [Ire]) and an unnamed 2006 filly
by Empire Maker.
“We’ll keep our options open for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) or the Cigar
Mile H. (G1),” Suroor stated. “We need to see how the horse comes out of the
race, talk to Sheikh Mohammad and figure out the best plan for this horse.”