Domestic Dispute has made 19 career starts, winning three times with four seconds and two thirds for earnings of $693,115. In addition to winning the Strub and finishing second in the Del Mar Breeders' Cup, he also won last year‚s Santa Catalina Stakes (gr. II) and placed in four other black-type events.
Strub Stakes (gr. II) winner Domestic Dispute, getting ready to start next in Saturday's Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) at Belmont Park, worked six furlongs in 1:13 over Santa Anita's main track Monday in a move that pleased trainer Paddy Gallagher. The 4-year-old son of Unbridled's Song, who finished second by a nose to Supah Blitz in the Sept. 5 Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) in his last start, is set to leave for New York early Wednesday morning. "He's been training really well," Gallagher said of the chestnut colt. "He's running (in the Gold Cup) because it's perfect for breeding purposes as he's going to be retired at the end of the year if he were to win it." Gallagher said that leading jockey John Velazquez will take over for Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux in the $1-million feature, which is contested at 1 1/4 miles over Belmont's main track. "Kent had some commitments (in California) and elected to stay here," Gallagher said. "I would have liked for Kent to have ridden him because he knows the horse, but I'm very happy to have John Velazquez regardless." With a strong performance in the Gold Cup, Domestic Dispute will most likely be sent to Texas and a start in the Oct. 30 Breeders' Cup Classic-Powered by Dodge at Lone Star Park. "If he puts up a good performance, I imagine he'll go on to the Breeders' Cup," Gallagher said.