From Baseball Diamond to Horse Auction: Jayson Werth‘s New Passion

Former major league baseball player Jayson werth recently revealed a surprising shift in his sporting affections. While still admiring feats like Shohei Ohtani’s remarkable performance in the National League Championship Series, Werth has found a new favorite sport: horse racing.

“There are good games and great games and then there is what he did, absolutely incredible. We’ll never see something like that again,” Werth said of ohtani, before abruptly excusing himself to participate in a yearling sale at Keeneland, Ky.

“Wait,I’ve got to go bid on a horse,I’ll be back in two minutes,” he explained.

And bid he did. Werth successfully purchased a Good Magic colt for $110,000, destined for “the fund for Icon.” Icon Racing is the name of Werth’s newly formed horse racing syndicate, comprised of 25-30 investors each contributing $100,000 with the ambition of owning Triple Crown contenders. Currently, investors are shielded from additional costs like training and veterinary bills.

Werth is joined in this venture by media/tech executive Ian ritchie,longtime baseball agent Jeff Berry,and former MLB pitcher Shawn Kelly. His love of baseball, it seems, has been supplanted by the Sport of Kings.

Dornoch Wins a Dramatic Belmont Stakes, Denying Mystik Dan Triple Crown

Elmont, NY – In a thrilling finish at Belmont Park on Saturday, Dornoch, a chestnut colt trained by Danny Gargan, surged past a tiring Mystik Dan to win the 156th running of the Belmont Stakes. The victory denied Mystik Dan a historic Triple Crown bid,marking a stunning upset in the “Test of the Champion.”

Ridden expertly by Luis Saez, Dornoch navigated a crowded field and found a clear path in the stretch, unleashing a powerful drive to overtake the front-running Mystik Dan. The final time for the 1 ½-mile race was 2:28.51.

Mystik Dan, who had previously won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, appeared poised to make history, but faded in the final furlong, finishing second. mindframe secured third place.

“He’s a really good horse,” said gargan after the race. “I knew he could do it. He’s been training great, and Luis gave him a fantastic ride.”

The Belmont Stakes, traditionally the final leg of the Triple crown, was run at a shorter distance this year due to ongoing renovations at Belmont Park. The race was held at saratoga Race Course, adding a unique element to the historic event.

Dornoch’s victory marks a significant achievement for gargan and Saez, solidifying their place among the top trainers and jockeys in the sport. While Mystik Dan’s Triple Crown dream was dashed, the belmont Stakes delivered a captivating race and a new champion to celebrate.

From Baseball Diamond to Winner’s Circle: How a Former Player Found His New Team with Dornoch

Ryan Werth,a former Major league Baseball player,experienced a different kind of victory on June 8th when Dornoch won the Belmont Stakes. But his journey to the winner’s circle wasn’t a straight shot; it was a leap into a world he initially knew little about.

“I went to a race and I didn’t really know much about the sport,” werth said. “I had heard about the Triple Crown and Kentucky Derby, just like everybody. But I went to a race and thought this is cool. And then I went to a race owning a horse and I went ‘I get it. This is it. This is what it’s all about.'”

He describes the experience as rejoining a team.”You’re back on the team. You go in the paddock and the trainer and jockey come and you listen to the plans for the race. It’s like a huddle. Go team. The horses are there. The jockey gets on the horse and bam you think this horse is mine. I own part of this horse. it’s like yoru teammate.”

despite the common adage warning against investing in airplanes, restaurants, or racehorses, Werth didn’t heed the advice. He initially focused on fillies before a conversation with trainer Danny Gargan at the Keeneland sales shifted his outlook.

“He told me I should try and get in on a colt and get in on the Derby dream,” Werth said. “And that’s where I got 10% of Dornoch.Over the course of those two years, it really transformed and changed my life.”

Dornoch secured his place in the Kentucky Derby by winning the Remsen at Aqueduct and the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream. Interestingly, Werth, known for his stoic demeanor during his baseball career, found himself surprisingly calm throughout the racing journey.

The thrill,he discovered,wasn’t about personal pressure,but about being part of something bigger – a team centered around a powerful,athletic animal striving for greatness.

## From Baseball Diamond to Belmont Winner: Jayson Werth’s Unexpected Horse Racing Journey

Jayson Werth,a former major League Baseball player known for his clutch hitting and distinctive beard,has found a new passion – and a surprising amount of anxiety – in horse racing. He’s a co-owner of dornoch, the unlikely winner of the 2024 Belmont stakes.

“In horse racing I’m the exact opposite,” he said. “It’s like I’m having a mental breakdown. I’m a nervous wreck. I’m sweating. When Dornoch was going into the gate at the Kentucky Derby,I literally couldn’t breathe. I was hyperventilating and I almost passed out. I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life.”

Dornoch finished 10^th in the 20-horse field at the Kentucky Derby, going off at odds of 23-1. He never contended for the lead and ran mostly midpack or near the back.

Five weeks later, Dornoch was entered in the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown. The betting public didn’t think much of him sending him off at 18-1 in the 10-horse field. He broke alertly taking the lead on the far turn but then giving it up before the stretch only to rally back and win the race.

“He was the second longest shot in the field, so it felt like a kick in the gut as I felt like we had a horse that could win the Derby,” Werth said. “Next thing we’re not even in the conversation for the Belmont. Anytime you’re an extreme underdog like t

Dornoch wins Belmont Stakes in upset, Denying Mage’s Triple Crown Bid

ELMONT, N.Y. – Dornoch, a 6-1 longshot, surged to victory in the Belmont Stakes on saturday, spoiling Mage’s attempt to win the Triple Crown. The race, held at Belmont Park, saw Dornoch finish a neck ahead of Lightline, with Mage finishing third.

Jockey Luis Saez guided Dornoch to the win, completing the 1 ½-mile race in 2:28.51. It was a surprising outcome, as Mage, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, was heavily favored to make history.

“He ran a huge race,” Saez said of Dornoch. “He was very comfortable, and when I asked him, he responded really well.”

Trained by Danny Gargan, dornoch’s victory marks a significant moment for the team.The horse had shown promise in previous races,but few expected him to challenge for the Belmont Stakes title against a Triple Crown contender.

Mage’s jockey, Javier Castellano, noted the difficulty of the track. “the track was a little bit tough on him today,” Castellano said. “He didn’t get the same kind of footing he’s used to.”

The Belmont Stakes is traditionally known as the “test of the Champion” due to its demanding distance and challenging track conditions. This year’s race proved true to its reputation, with Dornoch demonstrating both stamina and speed to secure the win.

Dornoch’s win denies Mage a place in racing history, but it adds another exciting chapter to the storied legacy of the Belmont Stakes.