Discreetly Mine Amsterdam Choice

Todd Pletcher has enjoyed considerable success in the early stages of Saratoga Race Course’s 142^nd season, counting the Grade 1 Betfair TVG Coaching Club American Oaks among his victories as he battles for the lead among trainers, and hopes to cap off what could be another big week when he sends Discreetly Mine to face nine others in Monday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Amsterdam for 3-year-olds.

A versatile colt who broke his maiden last year at the Spa going the Amsterdam distance of 6 ½ furlongs, Discreetly Mine is coming off a good-looking sprint victory in the Grade 3 Jersey Shore at Monmouth Park. The win was his second of the year, having taken the Grade 2, 1 1/16^th mile Risen Star at the Fair Grounds, and he’s been competitive in all six starts save the 1 ¼ mile Kentucky Derby, in which he was 13^th behind stablemate Super Saver after a rough trip.

“He’s the kind of horse that does a lot of things well,” said Pletcher of the Mineshaft colt, who was second to D’ Funnybone in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens on June 5. “His last two races sprinting have been good. That’s not to say we won’t stretch him out down the road, but hopefully this will be a springboard to the [Grade 1] King’s Bishop [August 28].”

Owned by E. Paul Robsham Stables LLC, Discreetly Mine fashioned a record of 1-3-0 from five starts as a 2-year-old, finishing second in his debut and adding a pair of runner-up finishes in the Grade 2 Futurity and Grade 1 Champagne to close out his season while trained by Stanley Hough.

Pletcher, who won last year’s Amsterdam with Quality Road, will give a leg up to John Velazquez on Discreetly Mine, who leaves from post position 5. The 8-5 morning-line favorite will carry high weight of 123 pounds in the race.

Another hoping to use the Amsterdam as a springboard to the seven-furlong King’s Bishop is General Maximus, 2-1-0 from four starts this year and most recently second to the Jim Dandy-bound Friend Or Foe in the Mike Lee at Belmont Park on June 20.

The New York-bred Freud colt won his only start as a 2-year-old and returned to the winner’s circle at Gulfstream Park to kick off his 2010 campaign. Subsequently fourth in a one-mile allowance at Gulfstream, he was given a rest and then turned over to trainer John Terranova, who sent him out to post a 3 ¼-length win in the New York Stallion Stakes Times Square Division on May 2.

“In the Amsterdam, we’re going to see how he stacks up against the better 3-year-old sprinters,” said Terranova, who trains General Maximus for Michael Imperio. “I thought he ran very well in his first two races off the farm, and I think he’s sitting on a big race. We are hoping to shoot for the King’s Bishop.”

Javier Castellano rides General Maximus, who will be coupled in the wagering with Catalan, from post 9 at 6-1 on the morning line.

Another New York-bred, Make Note, will be making his first start in open company and first in a graded stakes in the Amsterdam. The Read the Footnotes colt, second to General Maximus in the Times Square, has been a consistent performer from the start with a mark of 3-2-2 from eight races, his only out-of-the-money finish coming when he was fourth in the Mike Lee.

Hall of Famer Edgar Prado rides the Richlyn Farm color-bearer, 15-1, from post 2.

Safe Trip, third to Discreetly Mine in the Jersey Shore, won his first two starts of the year at Churchill Downs for owners Mary and Gary West. Trained by Eddie Kenneally, the Tale of the Cat gelding drew post position 8 and will be ridden by Jose Lezcano.

Rounding out the field are Latigo Shore, Essence Hit Man, Backtrack, In Jack’s Memory, and Rule by Night.

The field for the Grade 2 Amsterdam: