It was a battle of the MCKINZIEs at Saratoga on Saturday when Big Dom won the stretch duel over Dr. Kapur to take home Thoroughbred Daily News ‘Rising Star’ honors and give his sire the 1-2 finish.
Both colts were making their debut in the six-furlong race and from the start were at the front of the class with Dr. Kapur setting the pace with Big Dom a length behind. One other horse was with them early before dropping back as Big Dom left the pressure on the pacesetter throughout the run.
Jockey Luis Saez asked Big Dom to chase the other MCKINZIE colt in earnest in the final furlong and he responded well. At the line, Big Dom was a neck in front of Dr. Kapur with the third placed runner 3 ½ lengths behind to make it clear there is much more to come from this duo.
Big Dom wins at first asking in R6 at Saratoga for trainer @tomamossracing with @jose93_ortiz aboard! 🏇 pic.twitter.com/0jG4OLtxhL
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 23, 2025
The Merriebelle Stable-bred Big Dom is trained by Tom Amoss for Greenwell Thoroughbreds and registered a bullet two works ago at Saratoga.
The colt is half-brother to Grade 3 winner Abeliefinthislivin and graded stakes placed Fully Living – that mare producing graded stakes winner Ballet Dancing and multiple graded stakes placed Untreated. Their dam Half A.P. is a half-sister to champion Halfbridled among her own dam’s five winners.
Half A.P. was part of the first book of mares for Preakness S. (G1) winner SEIZE THE GREY.
This is the second ‘Rising Star’ for MCKINZIE in two weeks after Golden Tornado earned his own status on debut at Saratoga on August 9.