Mo Donegal

Mo Donegal broke his maiden in his second career start. He won a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on dirt at Belmont Park by 1 1/2 lengths, recovering from a slow break to win going away. 

Next out, Mo Donegal made his stakes debut in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct on Dec. 4. He rated off the early pace, then took the lead in the stretch and held off the determined challenge of Zandon to win. For his win, Mo Donegal earned 10 points on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. 

Mo Donegal made his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 5, 2022. He closed well late but ended up third, beaten 2 1/2 lengths. He earned two more qualifying points for his efforts.

Mo Donegal rebounded with a powerful performance in his final prep race for the 2022 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, closing with a sustained late surge to reel in pacesetter Early Voting by a neck in the $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets April 9 at Aqueduct. He completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.96 with a final eighth of a mile in about 12 1/5 seconds to bank 100 qualifying points for the run for the roses, guaranteeing his spot in the starting gate May 7 at Churchill Downs. 

In the Derby, Mo Donegal rallied very wide in the stretch and closed to finish fifth. 

Five weeks later, Mo Donegal resurfaced in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets. He rated just off the early leaders, then took control in the stretch and drew off to victory, covering 1 1/2 miles in 2:28.28. He became the first Belmont winner for part-owner Mike Repole, the fourth for trainer Todd Pletcher, and the second for jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. 

Mo Donegal sold for $250,000 at the September Keeneland Yearling Sale in 2020.