Our Entourage and Stephanoatsee not to be overlooked in the Discovery Handicap
Looking at the Grade 3, $150,000 Discovery Handicap field, and it becomes certain that the 3-year-old colt, who came off the pace to take both, the Albany Stakes and then the big one, Grade 1 King’s Bishop Stakes, Willy Beamin is the hot favourite to also take the Discovery Handicap on 17 November, 2012, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trainer Richard Dutrow had been all praise for his colt by Suave, but he has to take into account other runners, who do pose a considerable threat to Willy Beamin’s chances of landing yet another graded stakes race.
Bruce Golden Racing’s 3-year-old colt, Our Entourage, who was claimed by David Jacobson at Saratoga for $65,000 out of a turf race, and then went on to win two dirt starts for trainer Todd Pletcher, most importantly the Temperence Hill Stakes at Belmont Park, will have his say in the Discovery Handicap.
Over the 1 1/8 mile distance, Our Entourage under the feathery touch of Ramon Dominguez swept past Called to Serve and Twilight Eclipse, who finished second and third respectively, to cover the distance in 1 minute and 50.04 seconds on 21 October, 2012.
However, his next start on turf in the Montserrat Stakes was a disappointment at Aqueduct Racetrack where he finished a dismal seventh to winner, Hobbs, on 4 November.
The Barbaro Stakes winning 3-year-old colt by A. P. Indy, Stephanoatsee can also spur up a surprise or two in the Discovery Handicap, as the Graham Motion trained colt is freshly off a good victory at Delaware Park.
In the Barbaro Stakes, Stephanoatsee defeated the likes of Adirondack King in second and Traffic Light in third, while covering the distance in 1 minute and 44.79 seconds on 20 October.
“His first race back was a conservative spot, and I think being stuck down on the rail in the Pennsylvania Derby may have cost him,” said Motion. “And then his race in the Barbaro was a good one.”
Chad Brown too has a contender, who is there for a spot finish. The Guilt Trip has been largely dwelling in maidens and first level allowance races, has been successful in that class, but the Discovery will be a whole new challenge for the colt.
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