Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Dornoch

Dec 07, 2023 John Mucciolo

West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing, and Pine Racing Stables’ Dornoch earned 10 points on the 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series leaderboard following his nose victory in the $250,000 Remsen S. (G2) at Aqueduct on Dec. 2. The two-year-old clocked 1 1/8 miles over the muddy, sealed surface in 1:50.30 with regular rider Luis Saez in the stirrups.

Dornoch took home the Remsen Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct to gain 10 points on the Road to @KentuckyDerby 150!

Click the link below to add him to your TwinSpires Stable Alerts and get notified the next time he runs! ⤵️https://t.co/pLwhtzcj2r pic.twitter.com/qZpKBjwGr2

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) December 6, 2023

Sierra Leone, Drum Roll Please, Moonlight, and Where’s Chris rounded out the top five and picked up qualifying points on a 5-3-2-1 basis.

Dornoch's pilot stated following the race, “Every day, you learn something new from horses, and this is a pretty special horse. Last time, he kind of was the same, but he ran with different horses. Today was a pretty tough race, and he proved that he’s a pretty good horse.”

The Danny Gargan trainee was unveiled at Saratoga on July 29 and came home a smart runner-up in a 6 1/2-furlong dash over a sloppy main strip. He was thrown in with stakes foes second time out and checked in a very good second in the Sapling S. at Monmouth Park while making his route debut. Dornoch preceded his stakes triumph with a 6 1/2-length maiden special weight victory at Keeneland on Oct. 14. His lifetime line now reads 4-2-2-0, $257,400.

Kentucky Derby winner Mage's little brother, #2 Dornoch leaves the competition behind to breaks his maiden in R6 at Keeneland for trainer @garganracing with @luissaezpty aboard! 🤩🌹

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/nY9GH5zsxB

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 14, 2023

Dornoch was bred in the Bluegrass State by Grandview Equine and brought the gavel down at $325,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The son of Good Magic was produced from the stakes-winning Big Brown mare Puca, who also finished second in the 2015 Gazelle S. (G2). He counts himself as a full-brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) victor Mage, as well as a half-brother to the stakes-placed Gun Runner filly Gunning.

The bay colt has registered Brisnet Speed figures of 86-86-95-98 from his four races to date, with his numbers escalating as the distances increase. He is a full brother to a Classic winner and gives the impression of a colt who has plenty of room for further growth.

Dornoch will winter in South Florida and likely reappear in March, according to his connections.