Domestic Spending makes a statement with explosive late move in the Manhattan
ELMONT, N.Y. – Chad Brown’s seventh Manhattan Stakes win came with a one-two punch, as Domestic Spending ran past his stablemate, Tribhuvan, to win the Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan by 2 3/4 lengths at Belmont Park on Saturday.
Seven also is the number of races Domestic Spending has contested. He’s won six of them, is 2 for 2 this year, and marked himself as the best grass horse in North America with this dominant score.
Domestic Spending had dead-heated with Colonel Liam on May 1 at Churchill Downs in the Grade 1 Turf Classic, but as Colonel Liam retreated Saturday, finishing eighth after stalking the Manhattan pace, Domestic Spending found his best stride. Rallying relentlessly under Flavien Prat, who kept his mount outside and in the clear, Domestic Spending collared a game Tribhuvan in the final furlong and crossed the finish much the best.
Over Prat’s torso were the silks of Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables, with whom Brown won the 2019 Manhattan with Bricks and Mortar. Bricks and Mortar was 5 at the time, a year older than Domestic Spending, but the parallels between the two are striking.
Bricks and Mortar also had won the Turf Classic before his Manhattan, possessed the same versatile running style as Domestic Spending, and continued to handle the longer distances that were thrown at him. Bricks and Mortar went from the 1 1/4-mile Manhattan on to the Arlington Million, winning that before successfully navigating 1 1/2 miles for the first time in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
“They’re so rare to come by you don’t want to say the next one you have is the same, but boy, he’s on his way,” Brown said. “He’s looking that way. He’s certainly running farther and stronger than he’d run as a younger horse, and like Bricks and Mortar, he just keeps progressing along.”
Domestic Spending, the 3-2 favorite, paid $5 to win and was timed in 1:59.08 over a “good” course that had dried considerably during a hot, sunny afternoon, earning a lifetime best 106 Beyer Speed Figure. Tribhuvan, who set very strong splits of 23.81, 46.95, and 1:11, finished second by 1 1/4 lengths over Gufo, who was last by a mile around the far turn and finished strongly, but much too late.
“He’s just giving himself too much to do,” said Gufo’s jockey, Joel Rosario. “He came with a run, but it was a lot to ask from that far back. I don’t think you can change him, he is what he is.”
Masteroffoxhounds took a nice step forward to finish fourth, followed home by Rockemperor, Master Piece, Channel Cat, Colonel Liam, City Man, and Bye Bye Melvin. There was a stewards’ inquiry involving Domestic Spending and Masteroffoxhounds that quickly was dismissed.
Tribhuvan, gelded before his 2021 campaign, won the Fort Marcy Stakes in his seasonal debut and ran even better Saturday.
He’s got a tremendous heart and he keeps going,” said Brown. “He’s a totally new player this year.”
But Tribhuvan will struggle to handle the improving, versatile, and very talented Domestic Spending. Seventh, racing in the clear down the backstretch, Domestic Spending moved effortlessly around the far turn, passing horses with easy strides, before taking aim at the leaders and mowing them down with a powerful sustained run.
“I got him to relax all the way around there,” said Prat. “When it was time to move, he responded really well. He was floating a bit down the lane when he was by himself, but he ran a good race.”
Domestic Spending, by Kingman out of Urban Castle, by Street Cry, also is gelded, having been given the ultimate equipment change late in his 2-year-old season.
“He was a bad boy, didn’t want to train. We just couldn’t compromise with him,” Brown said.
Domestic Spending finished third in the Hall of Fame Stakes last summer at Saratoga, his only defeat, but ended his 2020 campaign with an eye-catching score in the Hollywood Derby. He had a worse trip than Colonel Liam in the Turf Classic, and Saturday, for the first time, won a race by open lengths.
“Where he’s at is fine, but he looks like a horse who might have his best races ahead of him,” said Brown.
The Arlington Million now is the $600,000 Mister D. Stakes, but the 1 1/4-mile race in August fits Domestic Spending’s schedule and could be his next start. Bricks and Mortar was able to sustain his run over 1 1/2 miles to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf, and Domestic Spending is headed the same direction.