Amsterdam Stakes win for Discreetly Mine

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (AP):

Discreetly Mine took control from Essence Hit Man leaving the quarter pole and drew away to an 8 3/4-length victory in the US$150,000 Amsterdam Stakes for three-year-olds at Saratoga Race Course yesterday.

John Velazquez was aboard the heavy favourite, who flourished since returning to sprint distances after a dismal 13th-place effort in the Kentucky Derby. He ran 6 1/2 furlongs yesterday in 1:14.27, giving trainer Todd Pletcher consecutive victories in the Amsterdam.

Discreetly Mine earned US$90,000 for the E. Paul Robsham Stable.

On Sunday, Malibu Prayer scored a front-running upset of heavily favoured Unrivaled Belle in the US$250,000 Ruffian Invitational for fillies and mares Sunday at Saratoga Race Course.

Malibu Prayer, the four-year-old trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez, took the lead at the break when Unrivaled Belle stumbled slightly. She led while shadowed by the favourite throughout the 1 1/8 miles run in 1:48.14.

After repelling a challenge on the second turn, Malibu Prayer drew away to a 1 3/4-length victory. Classofsixtythree was a distant third. The Ruffian was Malibu Prayer's first victory in a Grade 1 race.

Earnings

Malibu Prayer earned US$150,000 for owner Edward P. Evans and paid US$6.70, US$2.80 and $2.50. Unrivaled Belle, who upset Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra earlier in the season, paid US$2.20 and US$2.10. Classofsixtythree returned US$4.10 to show.

Earlier in the Saratoga programme, favoured Get Stormy, ridden by Javier Castellano, won the $150,000 Fourstardave Handicap. The four-year-old ran 1 1/16 miles over the turf course in 1:39.09 and finished 1 length in front of Public Speaker. Zifzaf was third of seven.

The Tom Bush-trained Get Stormy earned $90,000 for the Sullimar Stable and paid $5.10, $3.10 and $2.80. Public Speaker paid $4.10 and $3.50 and Zifzaf returned $6.90 to show.