2024 Eclipse Awards: Dornoch

A colt named Baeza, ninth debuting in a Santa Anita turf maiden on Dec. 29, recently turned 3. Rapid improvement is required to continue a family tradition.

Baeza was produced by the Big Brown mare Puca. Her foal of 2020, the Good Magic colt Mage, upset the 2023 Kentucky Derby and became a finalist for an Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old.

Puca’s foal from 2021, Dornoch, could only finish 10th in the Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby, but he rebounded to capture the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, pulling off a Grade 1 double in the NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes. Now, he, too, is an Eclipse Award finalist.

Talk about looking up to big brothers. Talk about a proud mother.

Anthropomorphism aside, Dornoch’s superb season seemed far from assured as the calendar flipped to June. His signature win at 2 came in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes, and the narrative out of the Remsen spoke more to runner-up Sierra Leone giving the race away than Dornoch battling back to take it after leading and being passed.

A tepid triumph March 2 in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, Dornoch’s 3-year-old bow, and a mild fourth, six lengths behind victorious Sierra Leone, in the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass did nothing to enhance Dornoch’s status. And after his Kentucky Derby, Dornoch had dropped from conversations about leading 3-year-olds of 2024.

:: Full list of 2024 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

Some didn’t share that view. Trainer Danny Gargan started singing Dornoch’s praises well before his career debut, and Gargan insisted legitimate excuses clouded Dornoch’s form, among them his rail draw in the Kentucky Derby. Dornoch went off at odds of 17-1 in the Belmont and made Gargan look astute.

An inside-speed-biased track in the Remsen presumably aided Dornoch, but it turns out Dornoch’s gallant heart played a major role.

In the Belmont, Mindframe swept into contention in upper stretch and took the lead from Dornoch at the furlong grounds, looking like a sure winner. Instead, Dornoch and Luis Saez fought back to a half-length score. The Haskell unfolded like a Belmont replay. There came Mindframe, surging to lead. And back came Dornoch and Saez, counterpunching. When a horse re-rallies like this three times, it’s more than fluky.

Disappointingly, Dornoch’s season – and career – ended like a Mage replay. Dornoch ran better in the Grade 1 DraftKings Travers than Mage had, but both brothers were retired afterward.

Mage wasn’t a champion. Dornoch, failing even to make the Breeders’ Cup, likely won’t be either. Both rated among the best of their generation.

Dornoch was bred by Grandview Equine and sold for $325,000 as a yearling at the 2022 Keeneland September sale. Owned by West Paces Racing LLC, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding LLC, Two Eight Racing LLC, and Pine Racing Stables, Dornoch will stand his first season at stud at Spendthrift Farm in 2025.

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