Dornoch (foaled April 22, 2021)[2] is a multiple-Grade one winning American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2024 Belmont Stakes and Haskell Stakes.
| Dornoch | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sire | Good Magic |
| Grandsire | Curlin |
| Dam | Puca |
| Damsire | Big Brown |
| Sex | Colt |
| Foaled | April 22, 2021 Kentucky, U.S.[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Color | bay |
| Breeder | Grandview Equine |
| Owner | West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing & Pine Racing Stables |
| Trainer | Danny Gargan |
| Record | 10: 5 – 2 – 0 |
| Earnings | $2,427,275[2] |
| Major wins | |
| Remsen Stakes (2023) Fountain of Youth Stakes (2024) Haskell Stakes (2024) American Triple Crown wins: Belmont Stakes (2024) | |
| Last updated on 25 August 2024 | |
Background
editDornoch is a bay colt bred in Kentucky by Grandview Equine. His sire Good Magic was the U.S. Champion Two-Year-Old in 2017 after he won the 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile as a maiden; in 2018 he finished second in the Kentucky Derby.[3] Good Magic, in 2024 stands for $125,000 at Hill 'n' Dale Farms in Paris, Kentucky.
His dam, Puca, is a Grade 2-placed stakes-winning daughter of Big Brown. Breeders Grandview, with the help of Alex Solis II and Jason Litt, went to $475,000 for Puca at The November Sale in 2018, Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's boutique fall mixed sale where she was consigned by Denali Stud. Puca's offspring include 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage.[4]
Dornoch was bought by the Oracle Bloodstock agent as a yearling at the Keeneland September Sales for US$325,000.[5]
Former Major League Baseball player Jayson Werth's Two Eight Racing Stable is a co-owner of Dornoch.[6]
Racing career
editAfter finishing second in his first two starts at Saratoga Race Course and Monmouth Park, Dornoch broke his maiden on October 14, 2023 at Keeneland.[7] He then went to Aqueduct Racetrack and won the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes by a nose over Sierra Leone.[8]
In 2024 Dornoch began his three-year-old campaign winning the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes.[9] He then finished fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes and tenth in the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
Dornoch was then pointed to the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, which in 2024 was relocated to Saratoga and run at 1+1⁄4 miles instead of the usual 1+1⁄2 miles because of construction at Belmont Park. Sent off at 17-1 odds, Dornoch stalked Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Grey before being sent to the lead by jockey Luis Saez. The Todd Pletcher-trained Mindframe challenged entering the stretch, briefly passing Dornoch. As Mindframe drifted in the stretch, Dornoch regained the lead and went on to win by a half length.[10] After the race, Jayson Werth of Two Eight Racing Stable commented about winning the race, saying that it was "the same emotions you feel when you play a playoff game, when you win a World Series game and arguably when you win a World Series."[11]
Dornoch was then shipped to Monmouth Park to contest their signature race, the Haskell Stakes. Despite his credentials, Dornoch was the third betting choice while Mindframe was sent off as the 4-5 favorite. Dornoch was sent to the lead and contested with second choice Timberlake on the far turn. Dornoch eventually turned back Timberlake and held off Mindframe, who had stumbled at the start, to win the Haskell by 1+1⁄4 lengths.[12] Following the race, co-owner Randy Hill said that Dornoch would stand at Spendthrift Farm upon his retirement.[13]
Retirement
editDornoch was retired to stud in 2025 at Spendthrift Farm after he was diagnosed with bone bruising.[14]
Statistics
edit| Date | Distance | Race | Grade | Track | Odds | Field | Finish | Winning Time |
Winning (Losing) Margin |
Jockey | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 – Two-year-old season | |||||||||||
| Jul 29, 2023 | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | Maiden Special Weight | Saratoga | 2.60 | 10 | 2 | 1:17.95 | (1+3⁄4 lengths) | Luis Saez | [15] | |
| Aug 26, 2023 | 1 mile | Sapling Stakes | Listed | Monmouth Park | 1.50* | 9 | 2 | 1:38.91 | (1 length) | Kendrick Carmouche | [16] |
| Oct 14, 2023 | 1+1⁄16 miles | Maiden Special Weight | Keeneland | 0.56* | 9 | 1 | 1:45.00 | 6+1⁄4 lengths | Luis Saez | [7] | |
| Dec 2, 2023 | 1+1⁄8 miles | Remsen Stakes | II | Aqueduct | 1.70* | 10 | 1 | 1:50.30 | nose | Luis Saez | [17] |
| 2024 – Three-year-old season | |||||||||||
| Mar 2, 2024 | 1+1⁄16 miles | Fountain of Youth Stakes | II | Gulfstream Park | 0.20* | 5 | 1 | 1:43.64 | 1+3⁄4 lengths | Luis Saez | [18] |
| Apr 6, 2024 | 1+1⁄8 miles | Blue Grass Stakes | I | Keeneland | 2.64 | 10 | 4 | 1:50.08 | (6+1⁄2 lengths) | Luis Saez | [19] |
| May 4, 2024 | 1+1⁄4 miles | Kentucky Derby | I | Churchill Downs | 22.91 | 20 | 10 | 2:03.34 | (18 lengths) | Luis Saez | [20] |
| Jun 8, 2024 | 1+1⁄4 miles | Belmont Stakes | I | Saratoga | 17.70 | 10 | 1 | 2:01.64 | 1⁄2 length | Luis Saez | [10] |
| Jul 20, 2024 | 1+1⁄8 miles | Haskell Stakes | I | Monmouth Park | 3.40 | 7 | 1 | 1:50.31 | 1+1⁄4 lengths | Luis Saez | [12] |
| Aug 24, 2024 | 1+1⁄4 miles | Travers Stakes | I | Saratoga | 4.60 | 8 | 4 | 2:01.79 | (8+1⁄4 lengths) | Luis Saez | [21] |
Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Dornoch was the post-time favourite.
Pedigree
edit| Sire Good Magic (2015) |
Curlin (2004) |
Smart Strike (CAN) (1992) |
Mr Prospector* (1970) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classy 'n Smart (CAN) (1981) | |||
| Sheriff's Deputy (1994) |
Deputy Minister (CAN) (1979) | ||
| Barbarika (1985) | |||
| Glinda the Good (2009) |
Hard Spun (2004) |
Danzig* (1977) | |
| Turkish Tryst (1991) | |||
| Magical Flash (1990) |
Miswaki*^ (1978) | ||
| Gil's Magic (1983) | |||
| Dam Puca (2012) |
Big Brown (2005) |
Boundary (1990) |
Danzig* (1977) |
| Edge (1978) | |||
| Mien (1999) |
Nureyev (1977) | ||
| Miasma (1992) | |||
| Boat's Ghost (2004) |
Silver Ghost (1982) |
Mr Prospector* (1970) | |
| Misty Gallore (1976) | |||
| Rocktheboat (1996) |
Summer Squall (1987) | ||
| Native Boat (1989)[22] |
*^ Dornoch is inbred 4S x 5S x 4D to the stallion Mr Prospector, meaning that he appears fourth and fifth generation (via Miswaki)^ on the sire side of his pedigree and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.
* Dornoch is inbred 4S x 4D to the stallion Danzig, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.
References
edit- ^ a b "Pedigree of Dornoch". Equineline. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ a b "Profile of Dornoch". Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ King, Byron (May 6, 2023). "Mage Rallies to Thrilling Kentucky Derby Victory With a rally near the center of the track, Mage edged past Two Phil's to win". Bloodhorse.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ Angst, Frank (June 8, 2024). "Dornoch Helps Puca, Grandview Equine Make History; Puca first broodmare since Better Than Honour to produce two U.S. classic winners". Bloddhorse.com. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ King, Byron (December 2, 2023). "Mage's Brother Dornoch Determined Winner of Remsen; Sierra Leone rallied to poke a head in front but was outfinished by Dornoch". Bloddhorse.com. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
- ^ "Jayson Werth's horse victorious at Belmont Stakes". MLB.com. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ^ a b "Chart for Maiden Special Weight October 14, 2023 at Keeneland – Race 6". Equibase. October 14, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ King, Byron (December 2, 2023). "Mage's Brother Dornoch Determined Winner of Remsen". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
- ^ Grening, David (March 2, 2024). "Dornoch proves best over dampened Fountain of Youth field". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
- ^ a b "Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets Grade 1 - (race 12)". Equibase. June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Ehalt, Bob (June 8, 2024). "Dornoch, Full Brother to Mage, Takes the Belmont Stakes". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
- ^ a b "NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes Grade 1 - (race 12)". Equibase. July 20, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ^ Ehalt, Bob (July 20, 2024). "Dornoch Rises to Division Leader With Haskell Score". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
- ^ Hersh, Marcus (September 28, 2024). "Dornoch retired from racing, will stand at Spendthrift in 2025". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
- ^ "Chart for Maiden Special Weight July 29, 2023 Saratoga". equibase.com. July 29, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
- ^ "Sapling Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. August 26, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ "Remsen Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. April 14, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ "2024 Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes Grade 2 (race 14)". Equibase. March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ "2024 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. April 6, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
- ^ "150th Kentucky Derby". Equibase. May 4, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ^ "Draftkings Travers Stakes Grade 1 - (race 13)". Equibase. August 24, 2024. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – SKYPEEPER (GB) – Family 5-g". www.bloodlines.net. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023.