Speedy Dominus made the most of his first race on turf and won the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch by 1 1/4 lengths over the even-money favorite Data Link.

Dominus returned from a year layoff to win a seven-furlong allowance race at August 4 for his new trainer, Todd Pletcher. The speedy son of Smart Strike out of a Lord at War mare was bumped coming out of the gate, rated kindly on the lead for jockey Julien Leparoux and set early fractions of 24.29, 48.63 and 1:12.26. They had a two-length lead at the top of the stretch and had more than enough left at the end withstand Data Link's charge.

“He was the only speed in the race, he just galloped easy, broke easy, and it was pretty easy for him,” said Leparoux. “It was very nice for me at the end. He’s a nice horse. First time on the grass, he was relaxed.”

Dominus’ winning time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:40.32 and he paid $5.70

“We kind of anticipated he would be on the lead,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains Dominus for George Bolton, Spendthrift Farm and Stonestreet Stables. “The fractions were comfortable and he relaxed nicely. Things went just like we hoped.”