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.