Belmont at Big A: Domestic Product dominates Dwyer

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

A Klaravich Stables Kentucky homebred 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 Pegasus on June 15 at Monmouth Park, where he was involved in a four-way battle for command up 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.

Click here for Belmont at the Big A entries and results.

Prat kept Domestic Product under a tight hold up 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 seconds. 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 with 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 last-place 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,” Prat said. “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 boasts a 2-for-3 record over the Big A main track after graduating at second asking there in October. He turned the tables on Hades after finishing second to his familiar foe in Gulfstream Park’s Holy Bull (G3) in February en route to a win in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) in March and a troubled, off-the-board finish in the Kentucky Derby. The dark bay colt earned $110,000 in victory, returning $3.40 on a $2 win ticket as the 3-5 post-time favorite.

Paco López, aboard Joe Orseno-trained Hades, said his mount likely would 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,” López said. “We ran very good. My horse, I’m pretty sure that a little longer is better for him. For sure two turns.”