Godolphin Racing's Discreet Cat, expected to run in the $300,000 Hill `n' Dale Cigar Mile (gr. I) on Nov. 25 at Aqueduct, breezed six furlongs in a bullet 1:13 2/5 on Belmont Park's fast main track this morning.
Discreet Cat has not run since a 10 ¼-length victory in Belmont Park's Jerome Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) on Oct. 1, when he covered the one-turn mile in 1:36 2/5.
"The track was pretty demanding this morning," said Rick Mettee, assistant to trainer Saeed bin Suroor, when informed that the next fastest work at the distance was 1:16. "Going six furlongs was tough today, and he got a little tired. But we wanted him to get a little tired. He got a lot out of this work. He'll work once more next week, anywhere between Friday and Monday, depending on the weather."
On March 29, Discreet Cat won the UAE Derby (UAE-II), defeating a field that included Uruguay's Horse of the Year, the Argentina-bred Invasor. Since then Invasor has won four straight Grade 1 races -- the Pimlico Special, Suburban Handicap, Whitney and, last Saturday, the $5 million Breeders Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge.
Mettee said the Hill `'n' Dale Cigar Mile remains the target for the 3-year-old Foresty colt, undefeated in five starts.
