Dominus masters turf debut in Bernard Baruch

Dominus capitalized on a cozy pace scenario and a significant break in the weights (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography) Although Dominus had never raced on turf, his pedigree strongly suggested that he’d love the surface. Trainer Todd Pletcher took the hint, tried the lightly-raced four-year-old in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga, and the well-bred son of Smart Strike, from the family of Honey Ryder and Hit It Rich, dominated wire to wire. Owned by George Bolton, Stonestreet Stables and Spendthrift Farm, Dominus was sent off as the 9-5 second choice in his turf debut, and his second start off a nearly year-long layoff. Data Link had the form in the book and ranked as the even-money favorite, but as it turned out, he couldn’t reel in the winner. Dominus had the advantage of being the controlling speed, as well as an eight-pound concession from 122-pound highweight Data Link. Cruising to the front with Julien Leparoux, Dominus got away with comfortable fractions of :24 1/5, :48 3/5 and 1:12 1/5. Guys Reward sat in second, but didn’t apply any pressure, and Data Link was perched closer than usual in third. Turning into the stretch, Dominus found an impressive change of gear to spurt away, and his sudden injection of pace dealt his rivals the lethal blow. Although Data Link was trying his utmost, he couldn’t outkick Dominus, who reached the mile split in 1:34 2/5. The favorite inched a bit closer through the final sixteenth, but at no point did Data Link pose a threat to the front runner, who had 1 1/4 lengths to spare in the end.

Dominus completed 1 1/16 miles on the firm Mellon Turf in 1:40 1/5 to earn
his second career stakes victory, following last year’s Grade 2 Dwyer Stakes at
Belmont Park. The dark bay ridgling returned $5.70, $2.90 and $2.50.

“He was the only speed in the race,” Leparoux summed up. “He just galloped
easy, broke easy, and it was pretty easy for him. It was very nice for me at the
end. He’s a nice horse. First time on the grass, he was relaxed. He ran very big
today. He’s a big horse. He’s got this long stride, but when you ask him he’s
pretty light on himself, so hopefully we’ll keep going like this and win more
big ones.”

“We kind of anticipated he would be on the lead,” Pletcher said. “The
fractions were comfortable and he relaxed nicely. Things went just like we
hoped. I would have been disappointed if he’d gotten beat after the (:48 3/5
half).”

Data Link crossed the wire 1 1/4 lengths ahead of the slow-starting Sky
Blazer, who finished well for third. Guys Reward tired to fourth, followed by
Queen’splatekitten and Prince Will I Am, who was entitled to need a race off the
14-month layoff. Crimson China was scratched, and the main-track-only Alma d’Oro
didn’t get the chance to run.

Dominus was originally trained by Steve Asmussen. An impressive winner in his
second career start, he was just caught late in his stakes debut in the Grade 3
Derby Trial. In only his fourth start, Dominus led throughout to capture the
Dwyer. His first two-turn attempt came in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy, where he faded
to third. Shortening up in trip for the Grade 1 King’s Bishop last August, he
checked in a decent fourth to Caleb’s Posse and Uncle Mo, and headed to the
sidelines.

Nearly a year later on August 4, Dominus returned to action over the same
track and seven-furlong distance as the King’s Bishop, this time in Pletcher’s
care. He forced a fast pace before drawing off by 4 1/4 lengths in a terrific
debut for the barn. Now two-for-two as a four-year-old, Dominus has compiled a
record of 8-4-2-1, $439,329.

“There are tons of options,” Pletcher said regarding future targets. “He’s
still obviously a very nice dirt horse. It puts us in a position to pursue a lot
of options.”

Bred by the late Edward P. Evans in Virginia, Dominus was a $270,000 RNA as a
yearling at Keeneland September. He is out of the multiple Grade 2-placed stakes
heroine Cuando, a Lord at War mare, making him a half-brother to the
stakes-placed Arcturus.

Dominus is a very close relative of current multiple Grade 3 queen Hit It
Rich, who is entered in Monday’s Grade 3 Glens Falls at the Spa. Hit It Rich is
by the same sire — Smart Strike — and out of Cuando Puede, a full sister to
Dominus’ dam. Cuando Puede, a Grade 3 winner, has also produced multiple stakes
scorer Spanish Mission.

Cuando and Cuando Puede are in turn half-sisters to multiple Grade 1 star and
$2.2 million-earner Honey Ryder, a top turf mare trained by Pletcher. This is
the family of Grade 3 winners Dyna Da Wyna and Leroy’s Dynameaux, and further
back, Grade 2 Kentucky Oaks heroine Sun and Snow.

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