In an electrifying finish at the 156th Belmont Stakes, longshot Dornoch, owned by former MLB star Jayson Werth, pulled off a major upset, beating favorites Mindframe and Sierra Leone to capture the final jewel of the Triple Crown.
A Race to Remember
Dornoch, starting at 17-1 odds, seized the lead early, matching strides with Preakness winner Seize the Grey. As Seize the Grey faded, Dornoch found another gear, holding off late charges from Mindframe and Sierra Leone to win by half a length.
A Redemption Story
This win marks a remarkable turnaround for Dornoch, who faced a disappointing 10th-place finish at the Kentucky Derby after drawing the unfavorable No. 1 post. Jockey Luis Saez, who earned his second Belmont victory, never lost faith in the horse, stating, “I told Danny [Gargan, the trainer] ‘you have a Derby winner’… Today we had pretty good confidence that we could win this race. Thank God we got it.”
A Historic Triple Crown
Dornoch’s victory continues a streak of unpredictable Triple Crown seasons, with three different horses winning each race for the sixth consecutive year. This year’s results further emphasize the depth and competitiveness of the current three-year-old crop of thoroughbreds.
156th Belmont Stakes Results
- Dornoch
- Mindframe
- Sierra Leone
- Honor Marie
- Antiquarian
- Protective
- Seize the Grey
- Mystik Dan
- The Wine Steward
- Resilience
What’s Next?
While the Triple Crown season has come to a close, the racing world eagerly awaits the next chapter in these horses’ careers. Dornoch’s stunning victory at the Belmont serves as a reminder that anything is possible in this exhilarating sport.
