Discreet Lover looking for some respect in Woodward Stakes
The Woodward will be the fifth start at Saratoga for Discreet Lover, who finished fifth in last year's Grade 1 Whitney and Woodward respectively. Discreet Lover has started in seven races this year, highlighted by his closing 2 1/2 length victory in the Grade 2 Excelsior on April 7 at Aqueduct. Since then, he has finished off the board at Charles Town, Pimlico and Belmont before he closed for third in the Grade 2 Suburban on July 7 at Belmont.
Discreet Lover closed well on the outside to finish third behind winner Diversify, and second-place finisher Mind Your Biscuits in the slop in his second try at the Whitney on August 4 at 38 to 1. With that effort behind him, the 60-year-old trainer from Trinidad and Tobago expects better from his horse.
"Last year, I knew it was tough against Gun Runner," he said. "I know Gun Runner was the best horse in the world. You get beat 14 lengths by Gun Runner and you are running versus the best horses in the world. Gun Runner is out of the picture and they are beating me five lengths, three lengths. Without Gun Runner, I thought I had a very good chance this year. He is getting better and better and better and better. The last race he ran a 103 Beyer for first time. I expect him to run a 107 or 108 this time. Anyone wants to beat him, they have to run that fast to beat him."
The Florida-bred has earned a reputation for facing strong horses in tough races over his career. Entering Grade 1 competition for a small operation such as St. Lewis, who oversees a barn of 26 horses at Parx, can be intimidating to some, but it doesn't bother St. Lewis.
"I am a small stable and you got Pletcher in there, you got Chad Brown in there, you might have Baffert in there, everyone knows them," said St. Lewis. "You only know of Uriah's name because of Discreet Lover. When Discreet Lover goes, you probably won't ever hear Uriah St. Lewis again unless I get another good horse. On my little race track, I don't win at a high percentage either, but they will remember my name just like some other little guys that come by.