SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Luis Saez initially believed Dornoch could be a Derby winner when he first rode him at Saratoga Race Course last summer, as he told trainer Danny Gargan.
Though that prediction did not materialize, Dornoch proved his prowess by winning the first Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, clinching victory while racing along the rail and fending off Mind-frame to secure a surprising win in the Triple Crown finale as a 17-1 underdog.
Owned in part by World Series champion Jayson Werth, Dornoch bounced back from a disappointing 10th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby five weeks prior. This time, Dornoch navigated past leader Seize the Grey, overtook the Preakness winner in the final stretch, and triumphed by 1½ lengths.
“This victory ranks right up there with winning on the grandest stage. Horse racing is truly an underrated sport,” stated Werth, who won a MLB championship with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008. “You have the Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont. We just won the Belmont. This is as good as it gets in horse racing. It’s as good as it gets in sports.”
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This marks Gargan’s first win in any Triple Crown race and the second Belmont victory for Saez, who expressed unwavering confidence in Dornoch throughout.
“He’s a top 3-year-old in the nation, and we have always believed in him,” Gargan affirmed. “We let him race his way, and he delivered. If he’s allowed to run freely, he’s always a strong contender.”
