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Dornoch all grit in taking the Haskell (Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO)
Lynne Snierson/Monmouth Park
OCEANPORT, N.J.— Dornoch delivered the goods in the $1 million, Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park with a decisive win in the 1 1/8- mile test for 3-year-olds, and with his second straight top-level score he asserted his position as the leader of the division.
The Haskell day crowd of 38,976 was the largest since 60,983 showed up for Triple Crown winner American Pharoah’s win in 2015, and the total handle of $21,748,294 set a Haskell day record, eclipsing last year’s record $21,359,642.
The Haskell is a “Win and You’re In” for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 2 as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series and with the victory, the Danny Gargan-trainee, a son of 2018 winner Good Magic, earned an all-expenses paid berth in the starting gate.
Owned by West Paces Racing, R.A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing, and Pine Racing Stables, Dornoch proved that his upset victory in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes at 1¼ miles at Saratoga was no fluke. Under urging from regular jockey Luis Saez, who gave the colt a masterful ride, Dornoch came through with a statement win.
“Turning for home it was a fight. He had to dig down,” said Gargan. “He finds that late kick, that late gear that you need. He has the will to win. He finds a way to win what you need to win a big race. He’s put it together now.
“As a younger horse he’d wander around a little. His last couple of races, and I might have gotten him beat in the Blue Grass (Grade 1 at Keeneland in April), but I think that day educated him. He’s learned more, he’s seasoned more, and that’s probably got us where we are now.”
Sent off as the $3.40-1 second choice in the field of seven with the race day scratch of Fierceness, Dornoch did indeed have to battle his way into the winner’s circle.
After setting the pace on the inside and setting fractions of 23.32 and 48.08 for the first half-mile, Dornoch and Saez had a 1½-length lead. The Brad Cox-trained Timberlake, who was making his first start in four months, showed good early speed and passed Dornoch on the backside but couldn’t sustain his effort and weakened in the stretch under Flavien Prat.
Meanwhile, 3-5 favorite Mindframe, from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, was making his move under Irad Ortiz, Jr. and went four wide on the far turn to engage the leader. Mindframe got his head in front at the quarter-pole and rallied in the lane to a short lead.
But Mindframe, who had raced greenly in the Belmont when losing to Dornoch by a half-length, drifted in and back out while feeling the stick of his rider. Mindframe showed heart by digging in gamely in the lane but it was too little too late.
Dornoch crossed the wire in 1:50.31 on the fast track, with Mindframe 1¼ lengths behind. Timberlake was another five lengths back and Just Step on It, Sea Streak, Tuscan Sky, and Jasper’s Pride completed the order of finish.
“Today was not an easy race but he has a big heart,” said Saez. “He always breaks from there and wants to be on the engine. The plan was to break good from there and put him in the race. He did it. He showed up today. Mindframe was coming at him and we knew he was the horse to beat but we got the victory. He’s a special horse. He was pretty comfortable out there.
“He’s a really good horse who always shows a lot of guts and a big heart. Today he was travelling pretty comfortably. At the three-eighths when everyone was coming at him he re-broke again. He responded. He wanted to get there first.”
Gargan praised his rider, whom he said earlier in the week fits Dornoch perfectly and has extreme confidence in him.
“Mindframe is a really good horse. Luis rode a smart race tactically,” said Gargan. “It’s a speed bias track normally but I was a little nervous speed wasn’t holding that well. To go :48 on this track when the rest of the card they were going in :50 earlier, he showed a lot of heart. You can’t take anything away from him after this.”
Next up for Dornoch will be the Grade 1 Travers at 1¼ miles at Saratoga on Aug. 24.
“He will not have any problem getting any more distance. He has already gotten a mile and a quarter and that’s more comfortable for him. He’s a big horse with a big stride and he can run all day. And he’s a fighter. When someone comes to him he goes on,” Saez said.
After Dornoch’s win Gargan circled the Haskell on the calendar. Now he and Dornoch have two Grade 1 wins on the resume.
“Winning this race meant a lot to me, a whole lot. You have no idea how much this means,” said Gargan, who was teary on the track while Dornoch was being unsaddled. “This race was five weeks before the Travers, which made the timing perfect. We want to win the Travers. He’s always been special to all of us.
“He’s probably the leading 3-year-old right now and if we can win the Travers that would be three Grade 1 wins for us. He’s such a great horse and we’re blessed just to be part of it.”
