Danny Gargan

Mage's Full-Brother Dornoch Upsets Belmont Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY--Coming into this year's GI Belmont S., Dornoch (Good Magic) had the credentials to be a good one. As a full-brother to last year's GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage, the pedigree was certainly there. His rider, Luis Saez, is one of the leading jocks in the country, having registered his first victory in a Classic with Essential Quality in the 2021 GI Belmont S. Not to mention that the colt had already won a pair of graded stakes--last season's GII Remsen S. in addition to the GII Fountain...

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TDN Belmont Stakes Preview: 'Test Of A Champion' Gets A Spa Treatment

The field for the GI Belmont S., ranked in "likeliest winner" order: 1) SIERRA LEONE (c, Gun Runner--Heavenly Love, by Malibu Moon). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B Tabor, Derrick Smith Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing LLC & Peter M. Brant; B-Debby M Oxley (Ky); T-Chad Brown. Sales History: $2,300,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-3-2-0, $1,918,000. Last start: 2nd May 4 GI Kentucky Derby. This relentless, long-striding closer looms as the most logical choice to be draped with a blanket of white carnations Saturday at Saratoga. Yet...

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Away from Rail, Dornoch Aims for Smooth Belmont Trip

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - For trainer Danny Gargan, having Dornoch (Good Magic) land in Post 6 for the GI Belmont S. was a Monday win that just might lead to a major victory on Saturday. Five weeks after finishing a never-threatening 10th from the dreaded post position on the rail in the GI Kentucky Derby--a spot in the gate that has not produced a winner since 1986--Dornoch will leave from what Gargan figures will be a more promising location in the field of 10 at Saratoga Race Course. "I like...

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Mystik Dan Going in Right Direction for Start in Belmont

by Tim Wilkin and Editorial Staff For the first time since before the GI Kentucky Derby, Mystik Dan (Goldencents), had a workout. And trainer Kenny McPeek is getting more and more confident that his colt, winner of the Derby and second in the GI Preakness, will be in the starting gate at Saratoga Race Course for the GI Belmont S. on June 8. Mystik Dan, with exercise rider Danny Ramsey aboard, went five furlongs in 1:01.59 (2/5) on the Oklahoma Training Track Saturday morning. He worked in company with Gould's...

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Pletcher Runners Busy On Friday Work Tab; Belmont Preps Continue

The Todd Pletcher-trained trio of Fierceness (City of Light), Antiquarian (Preservationist) and Mindframe (Constitution) all visited the track Friday morning in preparation for upcoming starts in the GI Belmont S. held at Saratoga. 'TDN Rising Star' and Champion 2-year-old Male Fierceness marked his first work since finishing off the board as the favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby earlier this month. Working in company with stablemate Mindframe, the pair covered a half-mile in :50 flat over the Oklahoma training track, galloping out in 1:02 2/5, 1:14 3/5 and 1:28 2/5....

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Dornoch To Shoot For GI Belmont S.

Dual graded stakes-winner Dornoch (Good Magic) is preparing at Saratoga Race Course for a potential start in the June 8 running of the GI Belmont S. "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 GI Kentucky Derby 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. The bay colt posted...

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Saturday Insights: Son Of MGISW Stellar Wind Makes First Start At Santa Anita

8th-SA, $54K, Msw, 3-5yo, 1m, 8:09 p.m. ET. MAGNIFY (Justify), a 3-year-old colt, makes his debut for the Bob Baffert barn on Saturday. Out of champion 3-year-old filly and MGISW Stellar Wind (Curlin), the Magnier homebred is her second to make the races, but she has since produced a filly named In the Stars (Into Mischief), who was a $300,000 buy for G. Watts Humphrey Jr. at last year's Keeneland September Sale. The 2017 Keeneland November sales topper when she was taken home by M.V. Magnier for the lofty sum...

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Dettori to Ride Society Man in Derby

Frankie Dettori, who hasn't ridden in the GI Kentucky Derby since an off-the-board finish in 2000 aboard Godolphin's UAE Derby winner China Visit (Red Ransom), has picked up a mount in this year's Derby in West Paces Racing LLC, Danny Gargan, and GMP Stables LLC's Society Man (Good Magic). The news was first reported by Daily Racing Form Tuesday. Trained by Danny Gargan, who also has MGSW Dornoch (Good Magic) pointing to the big race, Society Man was last seen finishing second Apr. 6 in the GII Wood Memorial S....

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Sierra Leone, Catching Freedom, Tarifa Lead Derby, Oaks Workers

With less than two weeks to the first weekend in May, a gaggle of contenders for the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks took to racetracks across the country for some critical breezes Saturday morning. 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) has remained at Keeneland since his slashing victory in the Apr. 6 GI Toyota Blue Grass S. and returned to the worktab for the first time on a chilly morning, breezing a half-mile in the company inside of recent Keeneland maiden winner White Palomino (Kitten's Joy) in...

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Dornoch Faces Biggest Test Yet in GI Blue Grass

Saturday's GI Blue Grass S. will be Dornoch's big chance to put away any uncertainty surrounding his true talent. The son of Good Magic beat Blue Grass morning-line favorite Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) last December in the GII Remsen S., but his Chad Brown-trained rival only lost by a nose and has since improved his resume with a definitive win in the GII Risen Star while adding blinkers. Meanwhile Dornoch claimed a scratched-down edition of the GII Fountain of Youth, taking the lead early and breaking away from rivals in...

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Sierra Leone Installed as 2-1 Morning-Line Favorite for Blue Grass

'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), winner of the GII Risen Star S. Feb. 17, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in a field of 11 3-year-olds entered for Saturday's 100th running of the $1-million GI Toyota Blue Grass. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount on Sierra Leone and will exit from post 10. Dornoch (Good Magic) (post four), a full-brother to GI 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, is the second choice on the morning line at 3-1. Trained by Danny Gargan, Dornoch enters off a front-running victory in the GII...

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Dornoch Heads to Blue Grass

West Paces Racing, R.A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing and Pine Racing Stables' Dornoch (Good Magic), winner of the Mar. 2 GII Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream, is expected to make his next start in Keeneland's GI Blue Grass S. Apr. 6, trainer Danny Gargan told DRF. "It's been my plan since December. All our owners want to run in the Blue Grass, if he wins it makes him more valuable as a stallion. He won over the track, it's one ship, and three days...

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