Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Domestic Product

A fast finish from behind an incredibly slow pace carried Domestic Product to victory in the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Normally a fast finish in a short route race like the Tampa Bay Derby bodes well for stretching out over 1 1/4 miles in the Kentucky Derby (G1). But Domestic Product’s pedigree suggests the Derby distance might be a furlong farther than his best.

Domestic Product’s sire is Practical Joke, a talented sprinter/miler who won the Hopeful (G1), Champagne (G1), and H. Allen Jerkens (G1) over distances from seven furlongs to one mile. Practical Joke also managed to place in the 1 1/8-mile Haskell (G1) and finish fifth in the Kentucky Derby, but all of his victories came around one turn over distances of one mile or less, so speed was definitely his strong suit more than stamina.

The same can be said of Practical Joke’s progeny to date. Some have done well in short routes—Practical Move won the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Chocolate Gelato took the one-mile Frizette (G1)—but many others (like Skelly, Tejano Twist, Wit, Little Vic, Girl With a Dream, and Becky’s Joker) have done their best work sprinting. All told, the progeny of Practical Joke have won at the speed-oriented average distance of 6.5 furlongs.

Meanwhile, Domestic Product’s dam is Goods and Services, an unraced daughter of Haskell winner Paynter out of Indian Legend. These bloodlines are a mixed bag as far as speed vs. stamina goes. Paynter was bred to shine running long and lived up to that expectation by finishing a close second in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont (G1). At stud, he’s best known for siring the brilliant 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), Pegasus World Cup (G1), Whitney (G1), and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) over distances from one mile to 1 1/4 miles.

The progeny of Paynter win at an average distance of 7.1 furlongs, indicating a stallion who sires a mix of sprinter, milers, and route racers. Since Goods and Services never raced, we can’t say for sure what distance(s) she would have appreciated. But since Goods and Services is a half-sister to Kenda, winner of the Special Goddess S. sprinting about 6 1/2 furlongs over Santa Anita’s downhill turf course, we’ll venture to guess Goods and Services may have been a sprinter at heart. That makes sense since Indian Legend, the dam of Goods and Services and Kenda, is a daughter of Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Cherokee Run out of a mare by seven-furlong Carter H. (G1) winner Virginia Rapids.

Now, Cherokee Run managed to stretch his speed over 1 3/16 miles to finish second in the Preakness (G1), so there’s enough stamina dotted throughout the pedigree of Domestic Product to suggest distances up to 1 1/8 miles are well within his wheelhouse. But tackling 1 1/4 miles against a deep field in the Kentucky Derby may stretch the limits of Domestic Product’s stamina.