Unbeaten Discreet Cat, headed to Saturday's Hill 'N' Dale Cigar Mile (gr. I) at Aqueduct, breezed a bullet five furlongs over Belmont Park's fast main track Sunday morning in :59. It was the fastest of 34 workouts at the distance. A perfect five for five and the only horse to have beaten Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I) champion Invasor, Discreet Cat is expected to face Badge of Silver, Dixie Meister, Mantoloking, and Silver Train in the Cigar Mile, the final grade I of 2006. "He went really well," said Rick Mettee, Godolphin Racing's New York trainer. "He galloped out six furlongs (in 1:11 2/5). I'm looking forward to the race because he's facing a good bunch of older horses that all run good numbers on their best day. I'm glad he's going to be pushed. I just hope the track is dry and in good shape." Discreet Cat was pre-entered in the 1 1/4-mile Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 4, but withdrew from the race before actual entries were taken. Discreet Cat's owner, Sheikh Maktoum of Dubai, also owned even-money Classic favorite Bernardini, who finished second. "This is the spot he belongs," Mettee said. "We had to do right by the horse."
Jockey Garrett Gomez, who won the Cigar Mile last year with Purge, is to return from California to ride Discreet Cat.