The test of the champions has produced another worthy victor as Mo Donegal earned a first place finish at the 2022 Belmont Stakes on Saturday in Elmont, New York.
It’s the fourth Belmont Stakes victory for trainer Todd Pletcher.
MO DONEGAL (5/2) WINS THE BELMONT STAKES!
pic.twitter.com/bpndQXfPfi— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) June 11, 2022
MO MO MO DONEGAL runs away with the Belmont Stakes presented by @nyrabets! @iradortiz pic.twitter.com/FhPHpSQUVx
— Belmont Stakes (@BelmontStakes) June 11, 2022
Mo Donegal got off to a middling start, hanging in the middle of the pack while We The People raced out to the lead after starting on the rail. Despite sitting in sixth place on the backstretch, Mo Donegal was able to muscle around the top of the field and gather strength down the stretch to cross the finish line in just 2:28.28.
The 1.5 mile dirt race saw just an eight horse field, but it happened to be packed with established names like Skippylongstocking, Barber Road and 2022 Kentucky Derby-winner Rich Strike.
This was Rich Strike’s first race since his historic Run for the Roses when he was added as a late entry to the field, then blazed away with the win despite 80-1 odds—the second longest ever to win the Derby.
On Saturday, Rich Strike struggled to keep up with the pace and couldn’t make a late move running in eighth almost the entire race.
Mo Donegal, who finished fifth behind Rich Strike at the Kentucky Derby will take home $800,000 of the $1.5 million purse after closing with 5-2 odds.
Race Results
- Mo Donegal ($7.20, $3.80, $3.00)
- Nest (N/A, $5.30, $4.10)
- Skippylongstocking (N/A, N/A, $5.60)
(Based on $2 bet)
$2.00 Exacta: $27.60
$1.00 Trifecta: $187.50
$1.00 Superfecta: $692.00
