Triple Crown veteran Todd Pletcher had easy recommendation Saturday for jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. earlier than the Belmont Stakes.
“Be affected person,” Pletcher mentioned. “I feel you’ve gotten the most efficient ultimate quarter of any horse within the race.”
Occasionally, much less is Mo.
Mo Donegal pulled away down the house stretch and held off filly Nest to win the Belmont Stakes, giving Pletcher a 1-2 end and his 6th Triple Crown victory, together with 4 at this observe at the outskirts of New York Town.
“To be truthful with you, we had been a bit of assured going into the race nowadays,” Donegal Racing CEO and co-owner Jerry Crawford mentioned. “When he became for house, I used to be like, put out of your mind about it. I do know Todd concept he may just get a powerful ultimate quarter mile, and he unquestionably did.”
Wealthy Strike, a shocking Kentucky Derby winner at 80-to-1 odds, was once 6th.
Mo Donegal rounded the 1 1/2-mile distance in 2 mins, 28.28 seconds, 3 lengths forward of Nest — ridden by way of Ortiz’s brother, José. Pletcher, who lives on Lengthy Island, provides every other Belmont identify following wins with Rags to Riches in 2007, Palace Malice in 2013 and Tapwrit in 2017.
Mo Donegal beat an eight-horse box and not using a transparent favourite. We the Other people, a monster within the dust, opened at 2 to at least one amid a wet forecast however reached 7 to two by way of race time as showers held off.
Mo Donegal entered the gate the making a bet favourite at 5 to two. We the Other people led for a lot of the race, however Mo Donegal and Ortiz took price popping out of the overall flip.
The three-year-old colt paid $7.20, $3.80 and $3. Nest — who just about was Pletcher’s 2d filly to win Belmont after Rags to Riches — paid $5.30 and $4.10. Skippylongstocking was once 3rd and returned $5.60 to turn. We the Other people completed fourth.
Wealthy Striker proprietor Rick Dawson and teacher Eric Reed held the Kentucky Derby winner out of the Preakness with a watch on Belmont, the primary wholesome horse to skip Pimlico after successful the Triple Crown’s first even since 1985.
Reed mentioned the workforce inspired jockey Sonny Leon to take a look at pushing Wealthy Strike from the out of doors, however the horse stored looking to get again within — the place he made a past due price previous 19 horse to win at Churchill Downs. Wealthy Strike spent a lot of the race in ultimate position and could not get well.
“I feel we simply made a tactical error,” Reed mentioned.
Similar to Wealthy Strike, Mo Donegal was once behind the pack on the Derby, however the colt did not have sufficient kick at Churchill Downs. He discovered it Saturday, successful the 154th operating of the $1.5 million race.
Mo Donegal made a winner out of co-owner Mike Repole, a neighborhood entrepreneur identified across the observe as “Mike from Queens.” Repole additionally co-owns Nest.
“That is New York’s largest race and to win it right here, with my friends and family and 70 folks right here, this can be a large winner’s circle,” he mentioned.
It is the fourth instantly yr the Triple Crown contests had been received by way of 3 other horses, a primary for the game since 1926-29.
The race marked a go back to shape for Belmont itself after the 2020 Stakes had been closed to the general public because of the pandemic and the 2021 tournament was once restricted to 11,238 spectators by way of virus restrictions.
Capability was once capped once more, this time at 50,000, as a result of congestion considerations stemming from the newly constructed area subsequent door for the NHL’s New York Islanders. Nonetheless, enthusiasts stuffed into automobiles at the Lengthy Island Rail Street and breathed existence into the 117-year-old observe with floral headwear, pastel fits and the unmistakable musk of booze and cigars.
The reported attendance of 46,103 fell a ways in need of the grounds report 120,139 set in 2004. Now not a lot of a marvel, given the shaky climate forecast and the loss of a Triple Crown contender.
The sphere was once sparse, too. No horse ran all 3 Triple Crown legs this yr, heightening worry that 3 races in 5 weeks could also be too tight a agenda to stay the horses wholesome.
Preakness winner Early Vote casting was once sidelined, prone to get ready for the $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Direction on Aug. 27. Epicenter, the runner-up on the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, additionally skipped.
Within the $500,000 Acorn for 3-year-old fillies, Matareya romped to a 6 1/4-length victory. Favourite Echo Zulu scratched on the put up at the recommendation of the observe veterinarian.
Skilled by way of Brad Cox and ridden by way of Flavien Prat, Matareya ($2.60) ran the mile in 1:35.77, successful for the 5th time in 8 occupation begins.
Closely appreciated Flightline were given off a step sluggish, overcame an early visitors factor and cruised to a six-length victory within the $1 million Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Mile.
The victory stored the 4-year-old Tapit colt undefeated in 4 occupation begins. This was once the primary one he didn’t win by way of double-digit lengths. Flightline ($2.90) was once additionally ridden by way of Prat and educated by way of John Sadler.
