Expert Pick of the Week: Mister D. Stakes

Aug 12, 2021 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A field of 10 turf standouts will vie in Saturday’s $600,000 Mister D. S. (G1) at Arlington Park. The race formerly known as the Arlington Million is run at 1 1/4 miles and attracted a few heavy hitters that I think that the race will go through.

Klaravich Stables’ Domestic Spending is a once-beaten dynamo who is arguably the best turf horse in the country at the moment. A winner of three Grade 1 races in succession dating back to last season, the son of Kingman aced his first test at the distance last time out when romping in the Manhattan S. (G1) at Belmont Park, posting a robust 109 Brisnet Speed figure in the process. He is the Expert Pick of the Week.

Domestic Spending closed out 2020 with tallies in the Saratoga Derby and Hollywood Derby (G1), and he has shown big improvement this campaign. The gelding kicked off his four-year-old season with a dead-heat win in the Turf Classic S. (G1) at Churchill Downs despite receiving a less than favorable trip.

The British-bred talent possesses a sensational turn of foot and he looks like he is sitting on another big race, as well. Domestic Spending continues to train forwardly and shows six recent morning moves in advance of his Arlington debut. He could peak in his third run off the layoff with turf ace Flavien Prat in the stirrups.

A pair of horses look to pose the main danger to the morning-line favorite, including 2020 Pegasus World Cup Turf S. (G1) victor Zulu Alpha. Trained by Mike Maker, the accomplished son of Street Cry didn’t fire in the local prep for this event when fifth in the Arlington S. (G3), but that contest was used as purely a tune-up for Saturday, and the eight-year-old will undoubtedly take a big step forward in his second off the bench.

The Aidan O’Brien-conditioned Armory is a Group 2 star who has faced some of the top runners in Europe over the last three seasons. The four-year-old son of top stallion Galileo was a big third behind the mighty Love and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) heroine Audarya two prior at Royal Ascot, and he will be a major player with something resembling that showing. Armory will be rallying from off the pace with Ryan Moore coming along for the voyage.

An exacta with Domestic Spending on top of Zulu Alpha and Armory is the Best Bet of the Week.