Discreet Marq Gate to Wire in Sands Point

Patricia Generazio's homebred Discreet Marq, in her first start for trainer Christophe Clement, took the early lead and kept on going in the $200,000 Sands Point Stakes (gr. IIT) (VIDEO) for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park May 27.

Discreet Marq, two-for-seven with a stakes victory coming into the Sands Point, finished second in her two previous starts in ungraded stakes at Gulfstream Park for trainer Jane Cibelli, and before that was trained by Jim Ryerson. Discreet Marq, a New York-bred by Discreet Cat out of the Marquetry mare To Marquetry, had shown keen speed in her first two starts of 2013 at Gulfstream.

Jockey Jose Lezcano gunned Discreet Marq to the lead in the Sands Point, run at 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf course, and the filly set fractions of :24.61 for the opening quarter-mile and :49.64 for the half-mile. Discreet Marq, under no pressure, picked up the pace through six furlongs in 1:13.46 and one mile in 1:36.57, and then finished in 1:42.50 on firm turf.

The leader was chased throughout by Kitten's Queen, favored Watsdachances, and Wave Theory, but none of them could catch her. Wave Theory, who had a rail trip, shook free late to capture second, three-quarters of a length behind Discreet Marq, while Watsdachances got third by 1 1/4 lengths over Kitten's Dream in fourth.

Caroline Thomas and Unbelievable Dream rounded out the order of finish. Fusaichiswonderful was entered for the main track only and did not start.

Discreet Marq paid $7.80, $4.90, and $2.90 as the second choice. Wave Theory returned $5.40 and $3.20, while Watsdachances paid $2.50. The exacta returned $38 and the trifecta paid $108.50 in the six-horse field.

Discreet Marq broke her maiden in her second start last summer at Saratoga Race Course versus New York-breds on the turf. She now has three wins, a second, and two thirds in seven starts on the grass.