ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL – Local hero Two Emmys got loose early, took advantage of setting a pressure-free pace, and had just enough steam left to hold off the 2/5 favorite Domestic Spending and post the 27/1 upset in Saturday’s $600,000 Mister D. Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park.
James Graham hustled Two Emmys from the gate to set a lengthy lead, and with no pressure coming from either side, the 5-year-old English Channel gelding galloped through sloth-like fractions of :26.12, :52.43, 1:16.64, and 1:40.62 for the opening mile.
Fellow 5-year-old English Channel gelding Bizzee Channel – a neck victor over Two Emmys in the Arlington (G3) last time out – stumbled at the break but recovered to challenge for the lead midway through the far turn.
Two Emmys repelled that rival’s bid strongly at the top of the stretch, kicking clear once asked and having enough to keep Domestic Spending – rallying fast but not fast enough – at bay by a neck.
Co-owned by Wolfe Racing and trainer Hugh Robertson, Two Emmys completed the 1 1/4-mile good turf route in 2:03.34.
Despite running his final 1/4 of a mile in a field-best :22.42, Domestic Spending suffered his first defeat in 2021 and second in an 8-start career that included winning 3 straight – all Grade 1s – heading into this event.
Glynn County was 2 3/4 lengths back in third and 3/4 of a length the better of Space Traveller, who necked out a fading Bizzee Channel for fourth. Armory, Zulu Alpha, and Strong Tide completed the order of finish. Another Mystery and Big Dreaming scratched.
Two Emmys’ win was his first at the stakes ranks and improved his overall record to 16-4-7-0 with $545,708 earned; he was a $4,500 yearling purchase by his co-owners. The victory marked Robertson’s first in a Grade 1 and Graham’s fifth, though his first since the 2015 Del Mar Oaks.
Two Emmys returned $56.20 to win, $9.80 to place, and $5.80 to show. Domestic Spending brought back $2.40 to place and $2.10 to show. Glynn County paid $8 to show.
