Too Discreet Too Good in Schenectady

Too Discreet made short work of a short field on Friday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course, coming three-wide into the stretch and mowing down Bruised Orange and Don't Be So Salty in the final yards to win the first running of the $100,000 Schenectady for 2-year-olds.

 

It was the second victory in as many starts for Too Discreet, a full brother to multiple stakes winner Discreet Marq who broke his maiden in front-running fashion on August 2 over a firm course at the Spa.

 

Squeezed back into third after the start, Too Discreet and jockey Joel Rosario settled for tracking Bruised Orange and Don't Be So Salty through an opening quarter-mile in 22.14 seconds, with the half going in 45.31. Gaining ground steadily on the turn, Too Discreet collared the top two in mid-stretch and edged up to win by a neck.

 

Too Discreet's time for the 5 ½ furlongs was 1:04.13 over a turf course rated good.

 

"The ground was a little soft and he broke very, very sharp," said Rosario. "It looked like the two horses in front really wanted the lead and I just had to take him back. I give him credit after that. It took him a little bit of time to get there, but he really got there. I kept closing but I was not sure for a second because it took him a little time to really get to the two horses on the lead, but we got there. He's a fighter."

 

Sent off as the even-money favorite in a field reduced to four by scratches, Too Discreet returned $4.30 for a $2 win bet and boosted his bankroll to $103,800 for owner and breeder Patricia Generazio.

 

"Well, you know, short field, we got lucky, but the horse ran a really good race," said winning trainer Christophe Clement. "He's a 2-year-old in his second start so he's still learning. He's a nice horse, he's very well bred, a full brother to Discreet Marq and we'll have to think now do we stretch him to a mile, or do we just give him a break? I'm not sure. The important thing is next year in his career and I've got to speak to [owners] Mr. and Mrs. Generazio and we'll go from there."