|
|
 |
|
#1
08-25-2006, 08:58 PM
|
|||
|
|||
Discreet Cat makes huge statement in comeback
Joel Cunningham
Wire to Wire Editor Discreet Cat reminded the racing public Friday afternoon that he too is one of the best of his generation by rolling to a seemingly effortless 11-length victory over a helpless group of allowance horses at Saratoga. Fittingly, this dominating victory in his return to the races after a four-month hiatus comes on the eve of the Sheiks’ top 3-year-old performer – Bernardini – who will hold high expectations for the Dubai charge when he competes in the Travers (G1) as the prohibitive horse to beat. After breaking well and settling wide down the backstretch, Discreet Cat, with jockey Garrett Gomez like a statue in the saddle, cruised up to the leaders under his own courage with a very wide run, and then the show was on. The brilliant son of Forestry swept to the lead with ridiculous ease and looked immortal as he kicked away from his overmatched rivals while in a gallop to the wire – very much like stablemate Bernardini did in the Jim Dandy (G2) a month ago. Discreet Cat, the odds-on 2-5 gamble, stopped the clock in an eye-popping 1:21.53 for the seven furlongs over a fast but relatively ‘dead’ Saratoga main track. It was an experience that had Gomez in awe after dismounting the stellar colt. “I felt I had ridden some nice horses,” he quipped, as if to suggest that Discreet Cat may be the best he has climbed aboard. “He’s just a beautiful horse. I didn’t ask him to do anything; he did it effortlessly. If anything, I was trying to keep him idled down. When I pulled up, I told the outrider that he probably went in 1:22 or 1:23 because of the way the track has been. When I saw the teletimer, I was surprised.” Undefeated and unchallenged in four career starts, Discreet Cat, easy winner of the Group 2 UAE Derby in Dubai in March in his last start, enjoyed a successful comeback on nearly the anniversary he impressively captured his career debut at the famous Saratoga Springs oval. It was after that race that he was privately purchased by Darley. “He actually surprised me with how much speed he showed because we didn’t ask him for any in the morning," said Rick Mettee, assistant to winning trainer Saeed bin Suroor. “We just gave him steady moves. We wanted to teach him something today, so Garrett (Gomez, jockey) took him off the pace. There were some solid older horses, so I was happy he went by them as easy as he did.” “This gives us five weeks to the Jerome [Grade 2, $150,000-added Jerome Breeders’ Cup Handicap, 3yos, one mile, Belmont Park, Saturday, October 7], and that one-turn mile at Belmont Park should be a good trip,” he added about the colt’s next highly-anticipated start. “I doubt you’ll see him in the Breeders’ Cup [Saturday, November 4, Churchill Downs] this year; first things first. We’ll go in the Jerome and see how he comes out. He won easier than I thought he would. It’s a weight off our shoulders to get him back.” 
|
|
#2
08-26-2006, 02:06 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Just curious why you are the leading Godolphin sycophant.
|
|
#3
08-26-2006, 03:08 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Joel,
I really think you should try to get a job with Darley/Godolphin. I'm serious.
|
|
#4
08-26-2006, 05:54 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
In case you guys hadn't noticed or don't get it yet. The reason I play up Pletcher is to act as an American representative and "foil" To Joel's Godolphin act.
As a proud American, I always root for the American. Which is the way it should be of course.
|
|
#5
08-26-2006, 05:56 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
By the way, your operation got their balls handed to them again when Todd Pletcher's Fleet Indian absolutely urinated on Balletto. Imagine that, a "lowly" NY bred humiliates the best that money can buy. Thats great!!!! Stick that in that your non US supporting traitorous ass why don't you buddy boy!!!! Last edited by oracle80 : 08-26-2006 at 06:11 AM.
|
|
#6
08-26-2006, 09:02 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
That has to be one of the stupidest posts I've ever had the displeasure of reading. I, too, am tired of Cunningham's repeated posts of how wonderful the Godolphin/Darley horses are this year. (almost as tiring as Bold B's claim to have "discovered" Bernardini!) But to turn this into US vs THEM is sick. I guess I'm a traitor, too, because Ouija Board is my fav active runner, and by jove, she's not based here in the good ol' US. --Dunbar
__________________
Curlin and Hard Spun finish 1,2 in the 2007 BC Classic, demonstrating how competing in all three Triple Crown races ruins a horse for the rest of the year...see avatar photo from REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
|
|
#7
08-26-2006, 09:47 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Santos could have been charged with grand theft-G1 race for his ride on Fleet Indian. 25.62 50.67 1:15.21, then she sprints home. Balletto, a confirmed closer these days, never had a chance, ran a good race notwithstanding. Presumable there will be somebody to set a race-horse pace next time these two meet. May not change the outcome, daughter of Cal-bred Indian Charlie might still win.
Discreet Cat's race yesterday reminded me strongly of Officer's good races: inhale the field in a few strides on the turn, and then increase the margin to the wire while geared down. After Officer had done that five times in a row, including the G1 Champagne, nobody could see how he could possibly lose the BC Juvie. Not trying to be negative, just have had my heart broken a few too many times by horses to go into transports after only 4 lifetime races, 3 of them against average competition.
|
|
#8
08-26-2006, 10:14 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
The only time I root for Americans to lose is in the Ryder Cup because I cant stand the American men (save for Tiger) and all their little Stepford wives. I find them and the way they act unbearable. I almost feel sorry for them.
|
|
#9
08-26-2006, 10:16 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Hey George W. loves the sheiks and look how he turned out? Keep up the good work, Richie. Just remember there is a fine line between George W. and John Walker Lindh.
|
|
#10
08-26-2006, 11:10 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
WTF is going on with all of this elevated rhetoric lately about which posters are un-American? It's childish. I liked this board a lot better when we just gave each other crap about picks.
|
|
#11
08-26-2006, 11:15 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
|
|
#13
08-26-2006, 01:25 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
 I don't understand why people think I'm on their payroll or critisize me for rooting for these stars of the game...I really don't.... I guess there are just people out there that hate when the big guys win...they hate when the Yankees win..they hate when Tiger wins, etc. - and i can respect the underdog, little guy spirit....but please don't confuse me with somebody that is out to endorse and support the Shieks...I am just a fan of the game reporting what i see.....I have been predicting a huge second half of the year from them since Bernardini won the Preakness..
|
|
#14
08-26-2006, 01:40 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
I'm disappointed in you....Your persoanl insults are unecesary and over the top...I'll have to let Mr. Byk know the behavior that is still being put out on his forum because when I agreed with him that I'd post some of my editorials on his site I told him that I wouldn't otu up with personal attacks and this is the second one from you in a few months... Frankly, I think you're a loser and my assesment of you is pretty accurate from what I hear from many who know you or know of you...get a life....you clearly came home after losing all your money at the track and decided to take your rage out on somebody in a chat room that wasn't of the same op-inion as yours and you should be ashamed of yourself....I am making general obseravtios and that is my job, as an analyst and a fan... BTW, Fleet Indian was a cinch...handicapping 101....lone speed in a short field....balletto will beat her next time out with the right pace scenario, I promise you that....I bet Fleet indian - balletto straight EX because i knew just like everyone else that can handicap how the race would run....Fleet indian is no superstar...as a matter of fact she is 3rd string in that barn ior pletcher wouldn't have campaigned her at the second-hand venues that he did all yaer up until yesterday.....she's not much mare, but she is a GRade 1 winner now so pletcher did well with having her overachieve... As for you, I will just go back to ignoring you from now on....I thought that your blow-up earlier this summer may have been a one-time thing, but it is clearly a habit from a really insecure and low-life individual.. Unpatriotic...hah....you are a sick man...patriotism derives from Wars, buying American products, etc....It has nothing to do with the horses you root for you idiot. Can you grasp that? I guess you are just one of the smug New York racists that the world could use less of.....I have to say that I'm disappointed...
|
|
#15
08-26-2006, 03:16 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
Damn Joel, If you are gonna come on here and represent yourself as a writer, why not make sure you don't make spelling and grammar errors..... here is another example of this from a post of yours on one of the many Discreet Cat threads. [QUOTE}I NO, I'M TAKING UP FOR THE SHIEKS AND NO THEY DON'T PAY ME A DIME..I WISH THEY DID BECAUSE I WOULD BE MUCH RICHER... [/quote]How in the hell can you actually type "I NO" I think your writing is pretty good, but your credibility suffers in my opinion when you mangle sentences in your posts. This is definitely not a personal attack like Oracle's, but if you are representing yourself as a writer, that demands clarity and error-free writing. Do you not agree? I can accept that some of these are just typing errors, but "I NO...." come on?
|
|
#16
08-26-2006, 04:33 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
|
|
#17
08-26-2006, 08:25 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
--Dunbar
__________________
Curlin and Hard Spun finish 1,2 in the 2007 BC Classic, demonstrating how competing in all three Triple Crown races ruins a horse for the rest of the year...see avatar photo from REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
|
|
#18
08-26-2006, 08:29 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Id love to work for Godolphin one day that would be my dream job, or doing something with Dallham Stud in England
|
|
#19
08-26-2006, 08:35 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
But I agree, it's the repetition and the sheer giddiness about it that strike me as odd.
|
Linear Mode
