Dornoch (17-1) scored an upset victory in the 156th Belmont Stakes Saturday, and along with the blanket of carnations, West Paces Racing — co-owned by former MLB All-Star and World Series champion Jayson Werth — takes home $1.2 million with the victory, while jockey Luis Saez takes home his second Belmont Stakes win after winning aboard Essential Quality in 2021.
Preakness Stakes winner Seize The Gray set the early pace, and led the race over the first 3/4 of a mile that came in a 1:10.67. From there Seize The Gray faded, and that‘s where Dornoch and Mindframe raced to the front and kicked away from the field around the far turn and into the stretch.
Favorite Sierra Leone bided his time throughout the race and made a move late to hit the board in third, while Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan was a non-factor throughout the race.
For the sixth straight year three different horses won the three legs of the Triple Crown. The last time a horse won more than one in a year was when Justify became only the second horse since Affirmed in 1977 to win the Triple Crown, with American Pharoah being the other Triple Crown winner in 2015.
While the racing will continue throughout the year, the end of the 2024 Triple Crown season means the end of Bob Baffert's ban at the Kentucky Derby. The most polarizing trainer in thoroughbred horse racing will have the opportunity to participate in all three races for the first time since 2020.
156th Belmont Stakes payouts
6 — Dornoch WIN: $37.40 PLACE: $17.60 SHOW: $8.10
10 — Mindframe PLACE: $6.80 SHOW: $4.20
9 — Sierra Leone SHOW: $2.60
$1.00 EXACTA: 6-10 $163.25
$0.50 TRIFECTA: 6-10-9 $236.50
$0.10 SUPERFECTA: 6-10-9-8 $320.05
$1.00 DAILY DOUBLE: 9-6 $86.50
$1.00 PICK 3: 2-9-6 $213.25
$0.50 PICK 4 4 OF 4: 8,13,14,15,16-2-9-6 $514.00
$0.50 PICK 5 5 OF 5: 1-8,13,14,15,16-2-9-6 $3,972.50
$1.00 PICK 6 5 OF 6: 1-1-8,13,14,15,16-2-9-6 $227.25
$1.00 PICK 6 6 OF 6: 1-1-8,13,14,15,16-2-9-6 $35,034.00
Jayson Werth is now a World Series champion and Belmont Stakes winner
"Horse racing is the most underrated sport in the world, bar none... This is as good as it gets in horse racing; this is as good as it gets in sports."
The post parade is happing now for the first Belmont Stakes event at Saratoga. Fans in attendance should be in for a treat of a race as Derby winner Mystik Dan is in the field along with Preakness winner Seize The Gray. It’s called the Test of the Champion on the second Saturday in June, and those two will be threatened by favorite Sierra Leone, who has been called the best 3-year-old in the country, despite not winning either of the first two legs of the Triple Crown.
The Belmont Stakes is being held at Saratoga this year because of a major renovation project at Belmont Park on Long Island. Not sure exactly what these track conditions would be, but surely, they'll be good for the 2026 Belmont when the Test of the Champion returns to its home.
Clouds have rolled over Saratoga, with a 70% chance of rain over the next hour. With a post time set for 6:41 p.m., rain could be falling for the first Triple Crown race at Saratoga Race Course.
Yahoo Sports Staff
European horses take top two spots in Manhattan Stakes
Measured Time (Great Britain) and Nations Pride (Ireland) took home a 1-2 finish on the turf at Saratoga in the $1 million Manhattan Stakes. This is the last race on the card before the main event, the 156th Kentucky Derby.
#9 MEASURED TIME (GB) bests stablemate #7 Nation’s Pride (Ire) to win the $1 million Manhattan Stakes (G1)! pic.twitter.com/mq7JQ1MfnZ
$1.00 GRAND SLAM 4 OF 4: 1,7,8,10-2,6,8,13,14,15,16-2,3,5-9 $15.70
$1.00 PICK 3: 8-2-9 $32.50
Yahoo Sports Staff
Pat Riley makes an appearance at the Belmont
Legendary NBA coach and executive Pat Riley is in the house for the Belmont Stakes. Triple Crown races bring out the stars, and Riley, who's got two fists full of NBA championship rings is on hand to check out the races in New York.
An incredible moment as the legend Pat Riley was in the booth for the Hill N Dale Metropolitan Handicap. We talked about the Lakers, The Heat, The Fabulous Forum, Chick Hearn and so much more!#winnerswin#Showtime#Threepeat
Bob Baffert gets into the Winners' Circle in Saratoga
National Treasure — winner of the 2023 Preakness Stakes — trained by the legendary Bob Baffert is a winner in the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap. Baffert, who's in the final year of a ban from the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs, is not in attendance at Saratoga today and does not have a horse running in the year's Belmont Stakes.
#2 NATIONAL TREASURE pulls clear for an easy victory in Saratoga’s $1 million Metropolitan Handicap (G1)! pic.twitter.com/VIrVe0wWnz
Over 5 1/2 furlongs on the lawn at Saratoga, Irad Ortiz Jr. piloted Steve Asmussen's product to a first place finish ahead of a bunched photo finish for second place. Cogburn went to the front at the beginning of the race and never looked back to win Race 9 in the turf sprint. Next up, Race 10, the $1 million Hill 'N' Dale Handicap.
As of 3:40 p.m. ET, Conditions are good at Saratoga, but some rain could be expected in the 6 p.m. hour at Saratoga.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Racing is underway at Saratoga
Race 8 just wrapped up on Belmont Day in Saratoga Springs with the $500,000 Woody Stevens. Book'em Danno took first with Prince Of Monaco Second and Nutella Fella third.
#1 BOOK’EM DANNO holds off Prince of Monaco and Nutella Fella in the $500,000 Woody Stephens Stakes (G1)! pic.twitter.com/MBc9HOrRn4
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