Klaravich Stables' Domestic Spending, winner of the Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes (G1T) June 5, returned to the work tab June 20 over the inner turf at Belmont Park and remains on target for the $600,000 Mister D. Stakes (G1T), formerly known as the Arlington Million, Aug. 14 at Arlington International Racecourse.
Trainer Chad Brown sent the 4-year-old son of Kingman a half-mile in company with multiple grade 1 stakes-placed Rockemperor over the firm course. Domestic Spending completed his move in :49.75, a one hundredth of a second faster than his stablemate.
"He worked in company with Rockemperor just stretching his legs," Brown said. "He went an easy half-mile and I just wanted to get him out there and assess him. It was a very routine work. He looks super."
Domestic Spending closed out 2020 with victories in the Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes last August and returned three months later to capture the Hollywood Derby (G1T). The gelding began this season by finishing first in a dead heat with Colonel Liam in the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1T) May 1 at Churchill Downs before drawing clear in the Manhattan.
Brown also sent out Fernando Diaz-Valdes Stable, Baalbek, and Don Alberto Stable's Master Piece for a first work back after finishing sixth in the Manhattan. The 5-year-old son of Mastercraftsman, winner of an April 16 allowance at Keeneland, went a half-mile in :48.62 Sunday.
"He's looking for firm ground. I'm thinking about running him in the United Nations (G1T)," Brown said, referencing the $500,000 race July 17 at Monmouth Park.
Brown said he will be hoping for a better performance next out from Juddmonte's Pocket Square, who finished fifth as the favorite in the Longines Just a Game Stakes (G1T) June 5.
The 4-year-old daughter of Night of Thunder blitzed through a half-mile in :48.05, the fastest time of 18 covering the distance on the inner turf Sunday. She will be pointed for the $500,000 Diana Stakes (G1T) July 17 at Saratoga Race Course.
"Going into the Just a Game, she missed her final work with the rainstorms. I wasn't able to get a few horses there that weekend," Brown said. "In hindsight, it really affected her. She was flat in her race, and I think it was because of missing a work. I'm inclined to draw a line through that race and point her to the Diana."
Brown noted that Mike Ryan, Jeff Drown, and Team Hanley's lightly raced Higher Truth will target the $700,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1T), the first leg of the Turf Triple series for sophomore fillies, July 10 off allowance and maiden victories.
Arnold Gears Up for New York
Trainer Rusty Arnold said Calumet Farm homebred Cellist will make his next start in the $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational (G1T), the first leg of the Turf Triple series for sophomores, July 10. The Big Blue Kitten colt made every call a winning one last out in the Audubon Stakes May 29 over good turf at Churchill.
"We're really high on him, and we're bringing him up for the Belmont Derby," said Arnold. "He has a lot to learn but I think the distance will help him. The purse is really good, and hopefully, he'll handle the jump up."
Arnold said he plans to have his usual string of 16 horses at Saratoga this summer after missing the meet last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Last year was the first year I hadn't been at Saratoga since '85," said Arnold. "We love Saratoga and we've been there for a long time. You like it on the years when you have good horses better than when you don't, and we're excited to get back."
Among the good horses to be part of Arnold's Saratoga contingent is Amy Dunne, Pat Harlow, Brenda Miley, and Jean Wilkinson's Artos, who finished fourth in the Queen Mary (G2) June 16 during the Royal Ascot meet.
"She ran very well. We wish we'd been third but she had a tough go on her side of the course. She ran very credible," said Arnold.
Arnold said Artos will target the $120,000 Bolton Landing Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for juvenile fillies Aug. 18 at Saratoga.
"We'll play it by how she comes back, but that's two months off and will give her a lot of time to recover," said Arnold. "She gets back to Kentucky on Friday, and we'll ship to Saratoga soon after that."
Dunne, Miley, Westrock Stables, and Wilkinson's multiple graded stakes winner Leinster is enjoying a freshening at Wavertree Stables in Ocala, Fla. The 6-year-old son of Majestic Warrior captured the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes (G3T) Feb. 13 in his lone start this year.
"He won well at Gulfstream but came out of it with some issues," said Arnold. "All the turf races for him are in the fall so we sent him to the farm down at Wavertree, and we expect him back for the Saratoga meet. I'm not sure if he'll run there or not, but we'll have him back in training for the fall."
