Domestic Spending a definite for BC Mile, Brown says
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LEXINGTON, Ky. - Da Hoss won the 1996 and 1998 editions of the Breeders' Cup Mile with just one start in between. Animal Kingdom was second to Horse of the Year Wise Dan in the 2012 Mile with just one start in the previous 18 months. And now, Domestic Spending will try to add his name to the list of those turning in strong efforts in the Mile off a long layoff.
After Domestic Spending, who has not raced since August 2021, breezed Saturday morning on the Keeneland turf course, trainer Chad Brown confirmed that the gelding will be pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Mile on Monday at that deadline, and will proceed to the race if he continues to train well. Final Breeders' Cup entries are due Oct. 31, with the Mile to be contested Nov. 5.
"If he comes out of this work good, I'm gonna pre-enter the horse," Brown said.
Domestic Spending has won six of eight career starts and has never been off the board. After winning three consecutive Grade 1 races in the 2020 Hollywood Derby and 2021 Old Forester Turf Classic and Manhattan Stakes, he was second in the Grade 1 Mr. D - the Arlington Million - in August 2021. He has not started since, scratched from last fall's Breeders' Cup Turf with inflammation in a foreleg.
On Saturday morning, Domestic Spending breezed five furlongs in company with Virginia Joy in 1:01.67 on the Keeneland turf, on the watch of Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch.
"He's finishing his works like his old self," Brown said of Domestic Spending, who returned to the worktab in August. "He knows where the wire is, this horse. At the end of his works, he's been very strong and sharp."
As the Breeders' Cup pre-entry deadline on Monday approaches, Brown was also continuing to mull plans for multiple Grade 1 winner Jack Christopher. After the colt breezed five furlongs in 1:00.45 in company with Grade 1-winning Breeders' Cup Juvenile candidate Blazing Sevens - the duo galloped out in 1:13.44 on Welsch's watch - Brown said Jack Christopher will pre-enter both the Breeders' Cup Sprint, at six furlongs, and Dirt Mile. The Sprint will be designated as his first preference.
"I'm gonna cross-enter him in both - it's pretty close," Brown said. "I'm slightly leaning toward the sprint race, just because of his undefeated record at one turn. But we are still gonna cross-enter and look at the fields and I want to give myself that option to change my mind."
Brown was also busy Saturday morning with works by Search Results (Distaff), who went five furlongs in 1:02.92; Goodnight Olive (Filly and Mare Sprint), who Keeneland clockers caught in 1:00.40; In Italian (Filly and Mare Turf), who went a half-mile on the turf in 50.17; and Regal Glory (Mile), who worked a half in 49.48 in company with Rougir.
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