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Former Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth is succeeding on a different kind of track

Werth co-owns a horse, Dornoch, who’s on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

Former Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth, right, has picked up owning race horses in retirement, with one of his set to compete in the upcoming running of the Kentucky Derby in May.
Former Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth, right, has picked up owning race horses in retirement, with one of his set to compete in the upcoming running of the Kentucky Derby in May.Read moreJOSE F. MORENO / Staff Photographer

Former Phillie Jayson Werth is picking up a new hobby in retirement — horse racing.

The 2008 World Series champion co-owns a horse, Dornoch, that won the Fountain of Youth Stakes on Saturday in Hallandale Beach, Fla., and looks like a strong contender for the Kentucky Derby and other Triple Crown races.

“Only doing this for a few years now, lucking out getting in on Dornoch. ... Unbelievable horse,” Werth told TVG ahead of Saturday’s race. “We feel like he’s a special guy.”

» READ MORE: From 2018: After years of boos, Jayson Werth becomes a beloved Phillie once again

Werth, who played for the Phillies from 2007 to 2010 and was an All-Star in 2009, co-owns several horses with Two Eight Racing, named after his baseball number, 28. Dornoch is his first horse on the Kentucky Derby trail.

Dornoch’s full brother, Mage, was the 2023 Kentucky Derby champion, and Dornoch is looking to follow in his footsteps. The horse has won three consecutive races and also has two second-place finishes. His win at the Fountain of Youth earned him 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby. Dornoch now ranks second in qualifying. The top 20 horses in points qualify for the Derby.

The first of the three Triple Crown races, the running of the 2024 Kentucky Derby is on May 4.