Walter Wlodarczyk Photo

Domestic Product much the best in G3 Dwyer score

by Mary Eddy

Klaravich Stables’ Kentucky homebred Domestic Product made it look easy when drawing clear to a 7 1/2-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Dwyer, a one-turn mile for sophomores, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, the son of Practical Joke rebounded from a prominent second in the 1 1/16-mile Listed NYRA Bets Pegasus on June 15 at Monmouth Park where he was involved in a four-way battle for command down the backstretch under Flavien Prat and could not reel in runaway frontrunner Tuscan Sky.

Domestic Product was given a more patient trip this time around with Prat in the irons once again, breaking well from post 3 in the four-horse field and settling in third as Billal broke sharpest from the inside to hug the rail and mark the opening quarter-mile in 23.51 seconds over the fast main track.

Prat kept Domestic Product under a tight hold down the backstretch as Billal maintained a short advantage over Grade 3-winner Hades and Save the Trees saved ground in last through the half-mile in 46.27. Prat relaxed his hands a touch into the turn and Domestic Product responded with aplomb to range up three-wide around Hades and challenge Billal for the lead.

The top duo drew well clear of Hades at the top of the stretch as Save the Trees ran evenly behind his foes, but Domestic Product kicked well clear after seven furlongs in 1:21.38 and widened his margin with every stride down the lane to win wrapped up in a final time of 1:33.54.

A game Hades re-rallied to take place honors by five lengths over Billal, who finished four lengths ahead of Save the Trees.

Prat said Domestic Product relished the slight cutback from the Pegasus.

"He was traveling very well. I felt in control the whole race and he responded really well turning for home,” said Prat. “He took a very nice breather around the turn - I didn't know how much the leader [Billal] had left, but when I called on him, he responded very well.”

Domestic Product now boasts a 2-for-3 record over the Big A main track after graduating at second asking in October here. He turned the tables on Hades after finishing second to his familiar foe in Gulfstream Park’s Grade 3 Holy Bull in February en route to a win in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby in March and a troubled off-the-board finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. The dark bay colt earned $110,000 in victory while returning $3.40 on a $2 win ticket as the 3-5 post-time favorite.

Paco Lopez, aboard the Joe Orseno-trained Hades, said his mount would likely appreciate more ground.

"That was a good trip. When I moved, I took him out a little late. And the other horse [Domestic Product], he is known to be a good horse, he broke his maiden here,” said Lopez. “We ran very good. My horse, I'm pretty sure that a little longer is better for him. For sure two turns."

Live racing resumes Sunday at Aqueduct for Closing Day of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet. The nine-race card features the $125,000 Hudson Valley in Race 2 and the $125,000 Port Washington in Race 5. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the spring/summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.