In a humdinger of the Haskell Stakes (G1), Dornoch took the lead, relinquished it not once but twice, and re-rallied each time for a 1 ¼-length victory over Mindframe on Saturday at Monmouth Park.
The stretch run was similar to the 1 ¼-mile Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on June 8, when Dornoch briefly lost the lead to Mindframe, then re-rallied and won by a half-length.
Dornoch. Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
Idiomatic wins Molly Pitcher; Tapit Trice takes Monmouth Cup
In the 1 1/8-mile Haskell, Dornoch led from the start out of post 1, but Timberlake, making his first start in nearly four months, took the lead for a short time around the turn.
Then it was Mindframe racing wide who moved to the front in the stretch before Dornoch, under Luis Saez, dug in and pulled ahead at the sixteenth pole for the win.
“Turning for home it was a fight. He had to dig down,” trainer Danny Gargan said. “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.”
Yes he has. The 3-year-old full brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage moved to the head of his class after another big win. The bay son of Good Magic also earned a berth in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar in November as the Haskell is part of the “Win and You’re In’’ challenge series.
Dornoch, the third betting choice behind 4-5 favorite Mindframe and second choice Timberlake, returned $8.80 for a $2 win bet. Winning time was 1:50.31.
Mindframe, in just his fourth career start for trainer Todd Pletcher, ran another strong race with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard, but could not hang on in deep stretch.
Timberlake, trained by Brad Cox, finished third, five lengths behind Mindframe, followed by Just Step On It, Sea Streak, Tuscan Sky, and Jasper’s Pride. As expected, Fierceness was scratched and is set to run in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga on July 27.
Dornoch improved to three victories in five starts this year – he also won the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) in February – and his career mark moved to 9-5-2-0 for earnings of $2,352,275.
As a 2-year-old, he broke his maiden at third asking, then won the Remsen Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct to close out the year. After his Fountain of Youth win, he finished fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) as Gargan tried a new stalking approach, had a poor trip from the rail in the Derby and ran 10th, then rebounded with his Belmont win. Next up for Dornoch is the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 24.
“Today was not an easy race but he has a big heart,” Saez said. “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.”
On the Haskell Day undercard:
Idiomatic starts new winning streak
Champion Idiomatic ($2.20), sent off at 1-10, outdueled Soul of an Angel in the final strides and won the $500,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes (G3) by a head for trainer Brad Cox. The 5-year-old mare was back in the winner’s circle after finishing second by a head to Randomized in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at the Spa on June 8. The 2023 Eclipse Award winner as champion older dirt female had won six in a row before the defeat.
Tapit Trice is back!
Tapit Trice ($2.80), returning after nearly a year off, pulled away in the stretch for a 5 ¼-length victory over 7-10 favorite Highland Falls in the $400,000 Monmouth Cup Stakes (G3) at 1 1/8 miles. The 4-year-old trained by Todd Pletcher won the 2023 Blue Grass, then went 0-for-4 in four Grade 1s, the Derby (7th), Belmont (3rd), Haskell (5th), and the Travers (3rd).
Get Smokin holds on in United Nations
Sent off at 9-1, Get Smokin ($20.20) held on by a nose over 23-1 shot Grand Sonata and won the $624,000 United Nations Stakes (G2) on the turf for 3-year-olds and up. Far Bridge, the 2-1 favorite, was ninth of 11.
Beaute Cachee by a neck in Matchmaker
Beaute Cachee ($11.20) held off Sacred Wish by neck and won the $300,000 Matchmaker Stakes (G3) at 1 1/8 miles on the turf for 3 and up fillies and mares.