It's possible that trainer Todd Pletcher's strongest contender for the 2012 Kentucky Derby is not the proven stakes winner Gemologist. It is fairly possible that the best three-year-old in his barn is the immensely talented Discreet Dancer, who brought his record to 2-for-2 this afternoon with a dominating victory in a one-mile allowance optional claiming event at Gulfstream Park.
Sent off as the odds-on favorite at 4-5 against eight rivals, Discreet Dancer was sent right up under jockey Javier Castellano to take the early lead, dueling with longshot Hollywood Script through fractions of :24.19 and :47.25. One Sock Down, the second choice at 7-2, was in behind then in third while inbetween Neck 'n Neck and Two Is To Many. They were being followed on the outside by Here We Go Joe and Da Vinci in sixth and seventh, while A Boy Named Em and In the Beat trailed the field by a sizeable margin.
Rounding the far turn Discreet Dancer put away Hollywood Script and began to pull away from the field. One Sock Down and Two Is To Many gamely gave chase, but Discreet Dancer simply powered home in the stretch, coasting through seven furlongs in 1:23.62 before hitting the wire five lengths in front to complete the race in 1:36.32.
Neck 'n Neck came on to nab Two Is To Many for second, while One Sock Down finished fourth.
-Keelerman
I think Algorithms is being completely overlooked for some reason and will prove to be the best 3 year old in Todd's barn.
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