In a stunning upset at the 156th Belmont Stakes, Dornoch, guided by jockey Luis Saez, held off Mindframe and the favorite Sierra Leone to claim victory at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Despite being sent off at 17-1 odds, Dornoch took an early stalking position under Saez’s guidance, shadowing the pace set by Seize the Gray. As the field thundered through a brisk opening quarter mile in 22.99 seconds, Dornoch remained within striking distance, with Mindframe trailing just a length behind.

Approaching the far turn, Dornoch and Seize the Gray surged ahead, leading the field into the homestretch. Mindframe launched a wide stretch run, but as Seize the Gray began to fade, Dornoch seized the opportunity, shifting inside and holding off a late challenge from Mindframe.

Despite Mindframe’s determined effort, a slight veer off course in deep stretch created just enough of a gap for Dornoch to secure victory by a half-length, crossing the finish line in a winning time of 2:01.64 for the 1 ¼-mile test.

Meanwhile, Sierra Leone, the race favorite, faced adversity from the start, experiencing a poor break that shuffled him back to ninth position. Despite mounting a late charge characteristic of his style, Sierra Leone could only manage a third-place finish.

For trainer Danny Gargan, Dornoch’s triumph marked his first-ever Triple Crown victory, while for Saez, it was his second win at the Belmont Stakes. Notably, former major league outfielder Jayson Werth celebrated his ownership in Dornoch, earning a coveted win in a Triple Crown race.

The race’s venue at Saratoga Race Course was a result of ongoing reconstruction at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., adding another layer of intrigue to Dornoch’s unexpected triumph in this prestigious event.