Hollywood Park: Discreet Marq takes on elders in Matriarch
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Since Discreet Marq last ran in California, winning the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 17, she has enhanced her reputation in the nation’s 3-year-old filly division on turf. A second in the Grade 1 Garden City Stakes at Belmont Park on Sept. 14 was followed with a win in the $200,000 Pebbles Stakes there on Oct. 14.
Sunday, Discreet Marq races outside of her age group for the first time in the $250,000 Matriarch Stakes for fillies and mares. Winning that Grade 1 race over a mile on turf will not be easy.
The Matriarch field includes Better Lucky and Tiz Flirtatious, who were first and second in the 2012 running; Egg Drop, who won the Goldikova Stakes at Santa Anita on Nov. 3; and Dayatthespa, who was second to Better Lucky in the Grade 1 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 5.
Owned by Patricia Generazio, Discreet Marq has won 6 of 12 starts and $705,900. By Discreet Cat, Discreet Marq has won five stakes, all on turf at distances ranging from a mile to 1 1/8 miles while racing on the lead or off the pace.
“She can adapt to any scenario,” said Christophe Lorieul, assistant trainer to Christophe Clement. “It’s her best distance.”
Discreet Marq was not considered for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf over 1 1/4 miles this year. Lorieul said that race is possible in 2014, but that the Matriarch will be tough enough for Discreet Marq.
“This is against the older mares and we’ll take a shot,” he said.
Perez gets three-day ban
Jockey Fernando Perez will serve a three-day suspension from Friday through Sunday for causing interference in the third race at Hollywood on Nov. 22.
Perez was cited for his ride on Bench Press, who was demoted from first to second for drifting out in the stretch of a maiden claimer over 6 1/2 furlongs.
Perez, a former leading rider at Hastings Park in British Columbia, is riding in Southern California on a full-time basis for the first time this fall. Perez has 3 wins from 36 mounts at the Hollywood meeting.