Mo Donegal Captures Belmont Stakes

Attention turned to Mo Donegal in May as the three-year-old entered the Kentucky Derby. Mo Donegal was bought for $250,000 by Donegal Racing, a partnership that was established in 2008. Jerry Crawford runs the racing partnership that buys eight yearlings every year with the goal of winning the Kentucky Derby.

Mike Hartrich, a retired teacher and coach at Newton High School has a cousin Glen PIctuet who has an interest in horses belonging to Donegal racing. Pictuet got Hartrich's wife Teresa interested and she purchased a small part of the eight horses for a dollar each. When Teresa died in September 2021, the interests went to their two granddaughters, Megan Hartrich and Elise Wright who attend Newton High School.

Mo Donegal finished fifth at the Kentucky Derby and did not race at the Preakness.

But Saturday, Mo Donegal won the 154th running of the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York.

He was ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. who also took a horse, Creator, to victory at the Belmont in 2016.

Going into the eight-horse race, Mo Donegal was a 5-2 favorite and finished with a winning time of 2:28.28. Rich Strike, who was the Kentucky Derby winner, finished sixth. Early Voting, who had won the Preakness, did not compete.

Mo Donegal was positioned in the middle of the pack and was sixth around the first turn. He was never more than four or five lengths off the lead. Mo moved into the fourth spot down the backstretch and then moved outside on the final turn. He charged up on the outside and took the lead over three other horses for the victory.

The win was the fourth Belmont Stakes victory for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Co-owner of Mo Donegal is Mike Repole, a billionaire who sold the drink BodyArmor to Coca Cola back in 2021. Repole grew up in Queens, New York.