Belmont Stakes: Repole, Pletcher go 1-2 with Mo Donegal and filly Nest

Mo Donegal was the fifth-place face in the 20-horse crowd on the track at Churchill Downs, one of the many who got passed during Rich Strike’s stretch run for the ages in the Kentucky Derby.

Now Mo Donegal was back on the track Saturday for the 154th running of the Belmont Stakes as the favorite. 

This time, he did the passing at the head of the stretch and took control from there under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.’s guidance, sprinting to the finish line to win by three lengths over the filly Nest.

And there was something special about that 1-2 finish. Mo Donegal and Nest are both trained by Todd Pletcher and both are owned in part by Mike Repole, the Queens native and part-time Long Island resident.

First and second in the third jewel of the Triple Crown. You can’t beat that.

“We were really pleased with the way both horses were training,” Pletcher said. “I thought both horses were traveling really great the whole way. The one thing I told Irad was to be patient, and I think he got the best trip in the race.”

This was Ortiz’s second win in this race, following Creator in 2016. Pletcher has even better history here. This was the Hall of Famer’s fourth win at the Belmont Stakes, following filly Rags to Riches in 2007, Palace Malice in 2013 and Tapwrit in 2017.

And this gave Repole his first Belmont victory. He also owned the horse’s sire, Uncle Mo, the Eclipse Award winner as 2010 champion 2-year-old. Repole’s previous Belmont best was in 2011 as the runner-up with Stay Thirsty.     

The thirst is finally quenched.

“It’s a 40-year dream,” said Repole, whose Repole Stable bought a quarter of Mo Donegal eight days before the Derby, becoming co-owner with Donegal Racing. “Coming to this track and Aqueduct, being a kid from New York, this is New York’s race. 

“In 2011, I came in second with Stay Thirsty and I watched the replay 150 times. I will no longer watch that replay. Getting first and second here, it makes up for it. 

“This was the biggest goal of my racing life, and I just accomplished it, and I ran 1-2.”

Mo Donegal covered the 1 1/2 miles in 2 minutes, 28.28 seconds and paid $7.20 to win.

We the People, the morning line favorite, led for a good while. He was running 1-2 with Skippylongstocking at the final turn. But soon Ortiz made his move.

“It’s very special,” Ortiz said. “I’ve been working with him all winter. They kept putting me on, and he kept getting better.”  

No filly had won the Belmont since Rags to Riches became the third. In that race, Pletcher’s horse beat 2007 Preakness winner Curlin by a head. 

So guess who Nest’s father is? None other than Curlin. Father and daughter were runner-up in the Belmont Stakes.

But Nest, ridden by Jose Ortiz, got off to a rough beginning.

“She stumbled at the start,” said Repole, who co-owns her with different partners. “What would have happened if she didn’t stumble?”

Skippylongstocking finished third. We the People placed fourth. Then came Creative Minister in fifth, Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike in sixth, Barber Road seventh and Golden Glider eighth.

Rich Strike won the Derby with Sonny Leon on his back at 80-1. The horse came into the Belmont at 4-1. But it didn’t go well.

Regrets?

Trainer Eric Reed had a big one.

“We were hoping we could have been a little closer and our pace was slow,” Reed said. “Our biggest change was deciding to stay a little off the rail and try to give him a good, open run where he could take off.

“The whole way, his head turned and he was trying to get to the inside. I guess we made a mistake not putting him on the fence.”