Dominus’ Thin White Duke perfect in stakes company

Thin White Duke got his second straight stakes win on Tuesday with a popular victory in the $120,438 Aspirant S. at Finger Lakes in upstate New York.

The dark bay 2-year-old by Dominus captured the $150,000 Funny Cide S. a month ago at Saratoga in a maiden-breaking performance, and is now 2-2-2 in six starts and has earned $192,283 for breeder Phil Gleaves, who owns Thin White Duke along with Steve Krist, Ken deRegt and Bryan Hilliard.

This White Duke came out of the gate in a four-way battle for the lead, but was soon squeezed back behind a trio of runners. Still bottled up at the top of the stretch, he finally found daylight and flew home the final furlong to win by three-quarters of a length as much the best.

Thin White Duke’s dam Aberdeen Alley has produced seven winners and four stakes horses to date, including stakes winner Miami Cat.

Dominus, a son of leading sire Smart Strike, has six stakes horses this year. After standing for $5,000 in 2020, his stud fee for next year is to be announced in the coming days.