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Discreet Dancer waltzes at Gulfstream E. Paul Robsham Stables' homebred Discreet Dancer remained perfect from two career starts with a 5 1/2-length victory at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Sent off as the 4-5 favorite in the 7TH race, the Todd Pletcher sophomore brushed off his early pace attendant and opened up impressively in the entry-level allowance/optional claimer. Discreet Dancer was stepping up to a one-turn mile for the first time. The son of Discreet Cat had made his debut in a 5 1/2-furlong dash on Gulfstream's opening day, December 3, and immediately attracted notice with a track record-setting romp. Striding 9 3/4 lengths clear, the chestnut established a new mark of 1:02.34. The same kind of speed wasn't required on Saturday, and Discreet Dancer showed that he could essentially rate on the front end. With Javier Castellano back aboard, the talented colt carved out steady fractions of :24 and :47 1/5 while prompted by 109-1 shot Hollywood Script. The longshot didn't ruffle the odds-on favorite at all. As Hollywood Script threw in the towel on the far turn, Discreet Dancer found himself 1 1/2 lengths clear through six furlongs in 1:11 2/5. From there, it was only a question of how far he would pull ahead. Discreet Dancer was in a race of his own, stopping the teletimer in 1:36 1/5 on the fast track and paying $3.60, $3 and $2.20. Neck 'n Neck, despite his name, was alone in second by 2 1/2 lengths. Two is to Many checked in third, and Hollywood Script brought up the rear in the nine-horse field. Discreet Dancer, who has bankrolled $57,500, figures to make his next appearance in stakes company. The Florida-bred is a half-brother to Travelin Man, winner of Grade 2 Swale and runner-up in the Grade 2 Hutcheson last year. Those were seven-furlong events, however, and Discreet Dancer has now shown that he can handle a mile. Out of the winning Gone West mare West Side Dancer, Discreet Dancer comes from the family of European champion Duke of Marmalade and supersire A.P. Indy, among others. Discreet Dancer was the opening act in a terrific Saturday double for his sire. A little more than an hour later, the Discreet Cat colt Out of Bounds got up late in the Grade 3 Sham at Santa Anita.
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