Too Discreet runs away with Paradise Creek

Patrica Genarazio's homebred Too Discreet shook off the first defeat of his young career with aplomb on Saturday, capturing the $100,000 Paradise Creek by 2 ½ lengths in gate-to-wire fashion on the Widener turf course at Belmont Park.

Under the directive of jockey Joel Rosario, Too Discreet broke on top of the six-horse field and led the opening quarter mile in an unrushed 23.05 and the half in 46.07. The New York-bred Discreet Cat colt repelled a mild challenge from the wagering favorite, Bill Mott trainee Mighty Mo, in the far turn before drawing clear through the lane.

Too Discreet had scored back-to-back victories as a 2-year-old last summer at Saratoga Race Course, winning his debut against state-breds by a front running 2 ½ lengths before running from off the lead to seize the Schenectady on August 21for trainer Christophe Clement. The full brother to multiple graded stakes winner Discreet Marq had been away from the races for eight months when he returned this spring in the 1 1/16-mile Woodhaven at Aqueduct Racetrack in April, where he was unsettled through much of the race and finished fourth.

"He had been working very well heading into this race," said Clement. "He worked under Joel on the turf and I saw on paper the horse from Mr. Mott would be very tough but he got a great ride. Very patient, good fractions, and he's a very nice horse."

Too Discreet paid $7 for a $2 win wager. The winning time on the firm turf was 1:20.28.

Clement added that the connections have yet to map out a summer campaign for the gray 3-year-old turf specialist.

"We might have to go a mile but I'm pretty sure he'll go a mile," he added. "He's Discreet Marq's full brother and she got a mile really well. When he ran at Aqueduct, maybe he was not 100 percent fit going a mile and sixteenth on the turf."

The ground-saving Conquest See Ya fought his way through traffic in the stretch to get up for second. John Q. Public checked in third, followed by Mighty Mo, Rappel and Wicked Wink to round out the order of finish. Main track only entrants El Charro and Condo King were scratched.