Unranked since runner-up in GI Mr DS 2021 at Arlington Park, Domestic Spending (GB) (King {GB}) is being seriously considered for GI Breeders’ Cup Mile, coach Chad Brown reports. The 5-year-old was sidelined with a soft tissue injury before last year’s Breeders’ Cup.
“The horse was really going around well,” Brown said. “Obviously he’s been out for a long time and has a serious injury, a soft tissue injury. We gave it plenty of time to rehabilitate and the horse is healthy, happy and well trained. I really don’t see any other race for him. I have moved him to Keeneland and he will have a few more works. If he continues to do well, I’ll enter him in Miles and see if he gets in.”
Domestic spending returns to the work tab on August 29 in Saratoga. During his most recent workout, he wrapped five sweaters on the lawn in Keeneland on October 15 in 1:1.
“This was a nice surprise,” Brown said. “I am not making any predictions as to how he will be out of the job for almost 15 months. But he’s definitely a world-class turf horse when he’s right. So we’ll see if he can come back and perform at the same level. Based on his training there is definitely a chance he will. “
Brown admits that being in the race for such a long time and not being prepared can be a problem.
“In a perfect world, you would definitely want to be prepared,” he said. “It’s just not available to us and you have to play the hand you’re dealt. You would only try to do something like this if you had a world class racehorse. Also, it’s wishful thinking if you think you’ll be successful doing this. But he’s one of the best I’ve trained.”
Domestic spending is 6 out of 8 lives and also has wins in the GI Manhattan S., GI Hollywood Derby and GI Turf Classic S. at Churchill Downs.
In other Breeders’ Cup news from the Brown stables, the coach said he has yet to decide which race Jack Christopher (Munnings) will run in. The choices are GI Breeders ‘Cup Sprint and GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
“He was undefeated in one turn and his only loss (in GI Haskell S.) was about two turns,” Brown said. “That said, six feather clips are a bit sharp for him. A mile is a good distance for him. I will watch how he does and follow my gut. This is not the first time we have had to calculate distances on a horse. Sometimes you do it right and sometimes you do it wrong. If there is no perfect fit, you try to find the best fit. I want to try to put him in the race where he has the best chance of winning. When you try to stuff a square peg into a round hole and take into account too many factors, you can get yourself in trouble. “
As usual, Brown will have a group of worms and talent competing at this year’s Breeders’ Cup. In addition to Jack Christopher and Domestic Spend, his list of potential starters includes: In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Rougir (UK) (Territory {Ire} in GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and possibly Virginia Joy (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}); Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) in Mile; Free Look (Tapit) in GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf; Seaside (Curlin) in GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies; Oxymore (Austern {Aus}) and I’m Very Busy (Cloud) in GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf; Good night olives (Ghostzapper) in GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint; Search results (flatter) in GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff; Blazing Sevens (Good magic) in GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Highly motivated (into mischief) and piping (Sightstown) are those who can start in Dirt Mile.
“We’ve come to the Breeders’ Cup with more favorites than we’ll have this year,” Brown said. “I will not be entering any particular race with Lady Eli, Autumn Rush, or the Press. But we have plenty of nice horses and certainly some live footage to add another Breeders’ Cup win. No matter how many you run you only hope to win one. “
