Dornoch (inside) and Society Man breeze ahead of the Kentucky Derby (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y.— West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing and Pine Racing Stables’ dual graded stakes-winner Dornoch is preparing at Saratoga Race Course for a likely start in the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 8.
“He loves it here,” said trainer Danny Gargan. “He’ll probably work Friday – we’ll get a solid work in him over the Oklahoma.”
Dornoch was last seen finishing a troubled 10th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 4 where he drew the rail and was shuffled back at the half-mile call. He checked again at the quarter pole before running evenly down the lane to finish well back of the victorious Mystik Dan.
Dornoch posted back-to-back graded victories in the Grade 2 Remsen in December at Aqueduct Racetrack, where he defeated subsequent Derby runner-up Sierra Leone by a nose, and in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth in March at Gulfstream Park. He entered the Derby from a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Blue Grass in April at Keeneland.
“Dornoch is shooting for the Belmont,” said Gargan. “He had a rough trip in the Derby and had no shot a hundred yards in.”
Gargan also saddled maiden-winner Society Man in the Derby, where he finished 16th after a four-wide trip with a mild bid. The Good Magic gelding entered from a hard-trying runner-up effort to Resilience in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino at 106-1 odds.
Gargan said Society Man has several races to choose from next, led by the Grade 3 Ohio Derby on June 22 at Thistledown. Other options include the Grade 3 Matt Winn on June 9 at Churchill Downs, and the Pegasus on June 15 at Monmouth Park.
“He’s good, too,” said Gargan. “He won’t run in the Belmont and he’ll also probably work Friday. He’s probably going to the Ohio Derby, but there’s the Matt Winn and a stake at Monmouth, too. There’s a few options.”
