Discreetness Battles to Springboard Mile Win

Discreetness prevailed in a pulsating, three-horse finish in the $250,000 Springboard Mile for 2-year-olds Dec. 13, bringing down the curtain on Remington Park's Thoroughbred season.

 

Xpress Thoroughbreds' son of Discreet Cat   was up in the final stride to win by nose from local favorite and second wagering choice Suddenbreakingnews, with 7-5 favorite Esposito hanging on for third after grabbing the lead in upper stretch.

 

Ridden by Jon Court for trainer Jinks Fires, Discreetness rallied from fifth with a quarter mile to run, skipping over the sloppy (sealed) track to finish the listed one-mile race in 1:39.15. He earned his third win from five career starts and first in a stakes.

 

As Discreetness rapidly closed on the outside and Esposito charged nearest the rail, Suddenbreakingnews gamely drove through a tight opening between those two but lost the head bob. Esposito was three-quarters of a length back.

 

"It was quite exciting at the end, a little too tight for comfort," Court said. "I think this horse has really come a long way. He's still really learning how to run. He put it together tonight and showed what he's capable of doing. I had to hold (Suddenbreakingnews) off and had to switch sticks back and forth, just enough to keep that nod in front."

 

Remington's perennial leading jockey by wins and earnings, Cliff Berry, brought Better Than Magic from last to finish a disappointing seventh while riding his the final race of his long career.

 

Xpress Thoroughbreds bought Discreetness for $105,000 from consignor Royal Thoroughbred International at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March sale of 2-year-olds in training. With the $150,000 share of the Springboard Mile purse, his earnings stand at $192,122.

 

Discreetness ($21.40) was bred in Kentucky by Trackside Farm and Tenlane Farm from the Elusive Quality mare Fondness, a half sister to English group I winner Bahamian Pirate and U.S. multiple grade II winner and sire Strong Hope.