At the 156th running of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, Dornoch, ridden by jockey Luis Saez, emerged victorious as a 17-1 longshot. The win marked Saez’s second Belmont victory and trainer Danny Gargan’s first Triple Crown race win. Sierra Leone, the Kentucky Derby runner-up, finished third behind Dornoch and Mindframe.
This year’s Belmont Stakes had a unique twist as it moved from its traditional Belmont Park location to Saratoga Springs due to renovations. Instead of the typical 1 1/2-mile race, the event was held over 1 1/4 miles. Despite the change in venue and distance, Dornoch was able to secure the win and maintain the streak of different horses winning each of the Triple Crown races for the sixth consecutive year.
Before the race, all eyes were on Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and Preakness winner Seize the Grey as potential contenders for the Belmont Stakes victory. However, it was Dornoch who surged past both horses in the final stretch to claim the win. The victory was particularly satisfying for Dornoch and his team after a disappointing 10th place finish in the Kentucky Derby.
Trainer Gargan expressed confidence in Dornoch’s abilities, calling the colt one of the top 3-year-olds in the country. With former World Series champion Jason Werth as a co-owner, Dornoch’s triumph at the Belmont Stakes solidified his status as a formidable competitor in the racing world.