By Jarrod Horak
The 2024 Triple Crown Series is in the books and Dornoch made it three straight upset winners. He pressed Seize the Grey from second, took the lead, turned away Mindframe when that one wandered in the stretch, and prevailed by a half-length. The final time was 201.64 over the fast, speed favoring oval. Post time favorite Sierra Leone found his best stride too late and was best of the rest in third.
Belmont Stakes 2024 order of finish: Dornoch (1st), Mindframe (2nd), Sierra Leone (3rd), Honor Marie (4th), Antiquarian (5th), Protective (6th), Seize the Grey (7th), Mystik Dan (8th), The Wine Steward (9th), Resilience (10th).
The second half of the year begins without a clear leader in the 3-year-old male division. Sierra Leone is by far the most consistent runner with wins in the Risen Star (G2) and Blue Grass (G1), a near-miss in the Kentucky Derby (G1), and a troubled third in the Belmont (G1).