Dornoch (17-1) scored an upset victory in the 156th Belmont Stakes on Saturday, along with a blanket of carnations, and West Paces Racing, co-owned by former MLB All-Star and World Series winner Jayson Werth, took home $1.2 million for the victory, while jockey Luis Saez claimed his second Belmont Stakes victory since winning in 2021 aboard Essential Quality.
Preakness Stakes winner She’s the Gray set the pace early, taking the lead through the first 3/4 mile in 1:10.67. From there, She’s the Gray lost steam, allowing Dornoch and Mind Frame to take the lead, then pulled away from the others around the long corner and into the straight.
The favorite to win, Sierra Leone, took his time throughout the race before making a move late in the race to finish third, while Kentucky Derby winner Mystic Dan did not perform particularly well throughout the race.
For the sixth consecutive year, three different horses have won all three Triple Crown races. The last time a horse won more than one race in a single year was when Justify became just the second horse to win a Triple Crown race after Affirmed in 1977, and American Pharoah won a Triple Crown race in 2015.
While racing will continue year-round, the end of the 2024 Triple Crown season will mark the end of Bob Baffert’s ban from the Kentucky Derby. Thoroughbred racing’s most polarizing trainer will have the opportunity to compete in all three races for the first time since 2020.
Dividend for the 156th Belmont Stakes
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 Ecstasy: 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 4/4: 8, 13, 14, 15, 16-2-9-6 $514.00
$0.50 Select 5 of 5: 1-8,13,14,15,16-2-9-6 $3,972.50
A parade is currently underway at Saratoga Race Course for the inaugural running of the Belmont Stakes. Fans will be treated to a race as Derby winner Mystique Dan will be running alongside Preakness winner She’s the Grey. The race, which takes place on the second Saturday in June, is called the “Test of Champions” and the pair will be challenged by the popular Sierra Leone, who has been called the best 3-year-old horse in the country despite neither winning the first two races of the Triple Crown.
The historic 156th Belmont Stakes is just around the corner.
Broadway star Idina Menzel sings ‘New York, New York’ in Saratoga
Live from Belmont Park
This year’s Belmont Stakes will be held at Saratoga due to extensive renovations at Belmont Park on Long Island. It’s unclear exactly what the condition of the track will be, but it will undoubtedly be in good condition when Belmont hosts the Test of Champions in 2026.
Mystic Dan is one of the favorites to win the Belmont Stakes today.
Belmont Weather Forecast
Clouds are spreading over Saratoga with a 70% chance of rain within the next hour, and with the start time set for 6:41 p.m., rain is possible for the first Triple Crown race at Saratoga Race Course.
European horses take top two places in Manhattan Stakes
Measured Time (GB) and Nation’s Pride (Ireland) finished 1-2 in the $1 million Manhattan Stakes on the turf course at Saratoga, the final race before the main event, the 156th Kentucky Derby.
Legendary NBA coach and executive Pat Riley will be in attendance at the Belmont Stakes, a star-studded Triple Crown race, with Riley holding his NBA championship rings as he watches the action in New York.
Jaime Torres, jockey for See’s the Grey, won the Preakness Stakes last month in his first Triple Crown race.
Saratoga Race Course, which can accommodate 50,000 spectators, is buzzing with excitement for the 156th Belmont Stakes.
Bob Baffert wins at Saratoga
National Treasure, the 2023 Preakness Stakes winner trained by legendary Bob Baffert, is the winner of the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap. Baffert, who is in the final year of his ban from racing at the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs, was not at Saratoga Race Course today and has no horses in this year’s Belmont Stakes.
2 — National Treasure win: $4.70 place: $3.10 show: $2.60
3 — Post time place: $4.30 show: $3.10
5 — Hold the Gold show: $4.70
$1.00 Ecstasy: 2-3 $9.20
$0.50 Trifecta: 2-3-5 $21.75
$0.10 Superfecta: 2-3-5-1 $20.32
$1.00 Daily Double: 8-2 $8.80
$1.00 Pick 3: 1-8-2 $32.50
Legendary Saratoga Race Course will host the Belmont Stakes for the first time
Cogburn wins G1 Jaipur Stakes
In a five-and-a-half-furlong race on Saratoga’s turf course, Irad Ortiz Jr. steered Steve Asmussen’s horse to first place, fending off a photo finish for second place. Cogburn took the lead early in the race and never looked back, winning the turf sprint in race 9. Up next is race 10, the $1 million Hill ‘N’ Dale Handicap.
8 – Cogburn win: $6.30 place: $3.70 show: $2.90
2 — Arzak place: $6.50 show:$4.80
6 — Star of Mystery (Gb) show: $4.00
$1.00 Ecstasy: 8-2 $18.80
$0.50 Trifecta: 8-2-6 $41.37
$0.10 Superfecta: 8-2-6-4 $152.65
$1.00 Daily Double: 1-8 $10.40
$1.00 Pick 3: 1-1-8 $85.00
$0.50 Pick 4 4/4: 7-1-1-8,13,14,15,16 $178.25
$0.50 Select 5 of 5: 4-7-1-1-8,13,14,15,16 $11,733.50
Is this what it feels like to be excited about a win?
Saratoga Weather Forecast
As of 3:40 PM, conditions are fair in Saratoga, however rain is possible in Saratoga as of 6 PM.
Racing is underway at Saratoga
Race 8 concluded with the $500,000 Woody Stevens on Belmont Day at Saratoga Springs, with Book’em Danno taking first place, Prince Of Monaco second and Nutella Fella third.
The 156th Belmont Stakes is the 12th race of the day and is set for a 6:41 p.m. ET start time.
