Dornoch confirmed for Blue Grass

Dornoch, the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth winner, will make his next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 6, trainer Danny Gargan said Saturday.

“It’s been my plan since December,” Gargan said. “All our owners want to run in the Blue Grass, if he wins it makes him more valuable as a stallion. He won over the track, it’s one ship, and three days after the race I’ll be at Churchill.”

By opting for the Blue Grass, it means Dornoch will again meet Sierra Leone, whom he defeated by a nose in last December’s Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct. Sierra Leone came back to win his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds on Feb. 17.

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Dornoch, a full-brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, won his maiden by 6 1/2 lengths at Keeneland last Oct. 14. He came back on Dec. 2 to win the Remsen after being passed by Sierra Leone in deep stretch.

Dornoch kicked off his 3-year-old season with a 1 3/4-length victory in the scratch-reduced field of five in the Fountain of Youth.

Dornoch has come out of the Fountain of Youth to work twice, including a half-mile move in 50.20 seconds at Palm Meadows on Friday. He breezed in company with the 2022 Remsen winner Dubyuhnell

“I’m very happy with him,’” Gargan said. “He looks better right now than he did going into the Fountain of Youth.”

Gargan said he plans to breeze Dornoch again next Saturday before shipping to Keeneland.

Meanwhile, Gargan said he plans to run Society Man in the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 6. Society Man, like Dornoch a son of Good Magic, is coming off a three-length maiden win going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct on March 9. On Friday, Society Man worked a half-mile in 47.88 seconds over the Belmont training track.

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