Breeding Land of Legends: Dornoch, Mage and Puca July 14, 2025 Kentucky is known as the Horse Capital of the World for a number of reasons – we raise, race and care for some of the best horses here in the Bluegrass. These experiences are a recommendation of ways to dive deeper into the life cycle of some of the fan favorites that call the Bluegrass home. Suggested tours might visit a place where a horse was raised, sold, raced or currently resides, along with other suggestions involving their racing rivals or family members. Let’s take a look at the life and progeny of Puca, one of the most legendary broodmares of recent memory, and her offspring, including Kentucky Derby winner Mage. Please note that all tours have to be booked separately, and we cannot guarantee any particular horse on any particular tour. All showings are made based upon the health and daily schedule of the equine residents. Puca Resolute Racing | Midway, Kentucky Puca was a good competitor during her racing career, winning or placing in seven of her 17 starts. She was among the top three year old fillies in 2025, and won a stakes race in her penultimate career start. Upon retirement from the racetrack, she took up residence at Runnymede Farm in Paris. Each of her four foals to race have won at least one race, with three of those horses going on to win or place on some of racing’s biggest days. Puca was named the 2024 Broodmare of the Year by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, a high honor for a special horse. In 2023, Puca was purchased by Resolute Racing for $2.9 million at the Keeneland November Sale. She now resides at their Midway, Kentucky farm and is often visited on tours of the farm. Visit Resolute Racing Photo courtesy of Julianna Havnaer/Resolute Racing Mage Airdrie Stud | Midway, Kentucky Mage is the second foal out of Puca to race, and is a son of leading sire Good Magic. His racing career began in January of 2023, and quickly ascended to the heights of the sport of horse racing. Mage placed fourth and then second in two consecutive Kentucky Derby prep races. The chestnut colt proved to be best on the First Saturday in May that year, coming from the back of the pack to win by a length at odds of 15-1. After concluding his racing career with over $2.5 million in earnings, Mage retired and is now a stallion at Airdrie Stud in Midway. When touring Airdrie, you’re likely to meet this Kentucky Derby winner and might even get the chance to feed him a peppermint! Visit Airdrie Stud Dornoch Spendthrift Farm | Lexington, Kentucky Dornoch found success on the racetrack just a year after his full brother Mage won the Kentucky Derby. He found himself on a three race winning streak from the fall of 2023 to the spring of 2024. After two out of the money placings, Dornoch rebounded to win the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes. He then went on to win the Haskell Stakes and finish a solid fourth in the Travers Stakes. After his racing career, Dornoch retired to Spendthrift Farm, where he just wrapped up his first season as a stallion, and is often seen on the stallion complex tour. You may also know Dornoch from the Netflix original series, Race for the Crown! Visit Spendthrift Farm Photo courtesy of Spendthrift Farm Puca’s youngest foal to race is Baeza, a three year old colt who has found success on the Triple Crown trail this year. The son of Gainesway Farm stallion McKinzie has placed third in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, and is poised to be a top contender through the rest of the racing season. Baeza, Dornoch and Mage were all born and raised at Runnymede Farm, a historic nursery farm that was vital to their successes on the racetrack, and a great farm to visit when you’re in Kentucky. Her yearling colt, nicknamed ‘Preaky’ (after the Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown and the only one of those special races that Puca’s foals have not won), is owned by John Stweart’s Resolute Racing and MyRacehorse. He currently lives at the Resolute Racing yearling division. Puca’s 2025 foal, a filly by Good Magic, looks just like her big brothers Mage and ‘Preaky’ and is thriving at Resolute Racing in Midway. Be sure to follow Resolute Racing, Spendthrift Farm and Airdrie Stud for updates on Puca and her famous offspring, and start planning your visit for a chance to meet these champions!
