As a full brother to upset 2023 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (USA-G1) winner Mage, Dornoch was a marked colt from his first start onward. He did not disappoint. Although he failed to complete a sibling double in the Kentucky Derby, he nonetheless made his dam Puca one of the few mares to produce winners of two American Triple Crown races when he scored in the Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) at 17-1 odds. His racing career ended after he was found to have suffered bone bruising following a subpar performance in the Draftkings Travers Stakes (USA-G1), and he is now a young stallion at Spendthrift Farm.
Race record
10 starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$2,427,275
2023:
2024:
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds in the Mile category on the 2024 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 7 pounds below co-highweights City of Troy (the European Horse of the Year) and Laurel River (winner of the Dubai World Cup, UAE-G1) and 4 pounds below the top 3-year-old on dirt, American champion 3-year-old male Sierra Leone.
As an individual
A larger and rangier horse than Mage Dornoch is a medium-sized bay horse with a strong, athletic build. He preferred cruising on or close to the lead and was game when set down for a drive. Jockey Luis Saez described him as a horse who “wanted to win,” but trainer Danny Gargan noted that Dornoch was “not an easy horse to train.”
As a stallion
Dornoch entered stud in 2025.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Dornoch was bred by Grandview Equine. He sold for US$325,000 through the 2022 Keeneland September yearling sale. He was owned by West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable (Randy Hill), Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing (Jayson Werth), and Pine Racing Stables. Trained by Danny Gargan, he was ridden to his Belmont Stakes win by Luis Saez, his regular pilot. Dornoch entered stud in Kentucky in 2025 at Spendthrift Farm.
Pedigree notes
Dornoch is inbred 4x4 to two-time American champion sire Mr. Prospector, 4x4 to three-time American champion sire Danzig, and 5x5x5 to Danzig’s sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and a breed-shaping sire. He is a full brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage and is out of Grade 2-placed restricted stakes winner Puca, a half sister to 2015 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (USA-G1) winner Finnegans Wake (by Powerscourt).
Puca is out of stakes-placed Boat’s Ghost (by the good Mr. Prospector horse Silver Ghost), a half sister to restricted stakes winner Ooey Gooey (by Political Force). The next dam in Dornoch’s tail-female line, the winner Rocktheboat, is by Summer Squall out of multiple stakes winner Native Boat (by 1971 Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap winner Native Royalty, by Raise a Native), a half sister to stakes winner Double Devil’s Food (by Devil His Due). Native Boat, in turn, is out of unraced Boat in a Moat (by Sauce Boat), whose half sister Secretaridge (by Secretariat) was a restricted stakes winner and is the dam of Grade 3 winner Chicago Six (by Wild Again).
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Dornoch winning the Belmont Stakes can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV6Ux36DT0U.
Fun facts
Last updated: March 1, 2025
Race record
10 starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$2,427,275
2023:
- Won Remsen Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Sapling Stakes (USA-L, 6FD, Monmouth)
2024:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FT, Belmont)
- Won NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Monmouth)
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds in the Mile category on the 2024 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 7 pounds below co-highweights City of Troy (the European Horse of the Year) and Laurel River (winner of the Dubai World Cup, UAE-G1) and 4 pounds below the top 3-year-old on dirt, American champion 3-year-old male Sierra Leone.
As an individual
A larger and rangier horse than Mage Dornoch is a medium-sized bay horse with a strong, athletic build. He preferred cruising on or close to the lead and was game when set down for a drive. Jockey Luis Saez described him as a horse who “wanted to win,” but trainer Danny Gargan noted that Dornoch was “not an easy horse to train.”
As a stallion
Dornoch entered stud in 2025.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Dornoch was bred by Grandview Equine. He sold for US$325,000 through the 2022 Keeneland September yearling sale. He was owned by West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable (Randy Hill), Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing (Jayson Werth), and Pine Racing Stables. Trained by Danny Gargan, he was ridden to his Belmont Stakes win by Luis Saez, his regular pilot. Dornoch entered stud in Kentucky in 2025 at Spendthrift Farm.
Pedigree notes
Dornoch is inbred 4x4 to two-time American champion sire Mr. Prospector, 4x4 to three-time American champion sire Danzig, and 5x5x5 to Danzig’s sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and a breed-shaping sire. He is a full brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage and is out of Grade 2-placed restricted stakes winner Puca, a half sister to 2015 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (USA-G1) winner Finnegans Wake (by Powerscourt).
Puca is out of stakes-placed Boat’s Ghost (by the good Mr. Prospector horse Silver Ghost), a half sister to restricted stakes winner Ooey Gooey (by Political Force). The next dam in Dornoch’s tail-female line, the winner Rocktheboat, is by Summer Squall out of multiple stakes winner Native Boat (by 1971 Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap winner Native Royalty, by Raise a Native), a half sister to stakes winner Double Devil’s Food (by Devil His Due). Native Boat, in turn, is out of unraced Boat in a Moat (by Sauce Boat), whose half sister Secretaridge (by Secretariat) was a restricted stakes winner and is the dam of Grade 3 winner Chicago Six (by Wild Again).
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Dornoch winning the Belmont Stakes can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV6Ux36DT0U.
Fun facts
- Dornoch was named for the Royal Dornoch Golf Club in the Scottish Highlands.
- Dornoch’s Belmont Stakes win was the first Grade 1 victory for trainer Danny Gargan.
- With his Belmont win, Dornoch made his dam Puca the ninth mare in history to have produced two winners of races now considered part of the American Triple Crown. The only other mare to do so in the 21st century is Better Than Honour, dam of Belmont Stakes winners Jazil (2006) and Rags to Riches (2007).
Last updated: March 1, 2025