Belmont Stakes Results 2022: Pletcher's Mo Donegal takes advantage of pace meltdown

With 7 colts and 1 filly "going" in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, the beauty of Elmont, New York shone through. There were quite a few "eyes" on Eric Reed's Kentucky Derby-winning Rich Strike #4, after the connections universally decided to skip the Preakness Stakes, and point to the final leg of the Triple Crown. How would he respond after his shocking 80/1 upset at Churchill Downs in early May? That was the central question ...

It was Todd Pletcher, with a pair of runners drawn-in, that ended up collecting the prizes. Donegal Racing and Repole Stable's Mo Donegal #6 at odds of 5/2 (race time favorite), and Eclipse Thoroughbreds and Repole Stable's filly, Nest #3, ended up going 1-2 in the race. The speed of the speed, Rudy Brisset's We the People #1 blazed a trail with Flavien Prat aboard. As the Morning Line "Favorite," his odds drifted towards 7/2, which denoted that the "smart money" might be headed to Pletcher's son of Uncle Mo. That sire never had the chance to run in a Triple Crown contest, but his prodigy have responded to the good. As the pace began to fall apart when the top of the lane arrived, Mo's #6 jockey, Irad Ortiz, was poised to strike. His brother, Jose, guided Nest #3 along, hoping to make a big run towards the end. It was not enough to catch the eventual winner.

As Prat and We the People #1 faded, and Saffie Joseph's Skippylongstocking #2 kept on for 3rd, it was apparent that it was going to be a "Pletcher Exacta." Sadly, Rich Strike #4 was never a threat ... jockey Sonny Leon and his precocious colt ended up 6th. In the winner's circle at Belmont, a tearful Ortiz celebrated alongside his conditioner and the large ownership group. The victory fulfilled a lifelong dream for New Yorker Mike Repole, who always wanted to win the Empire State's most important race. The Triple Crown is complete ... now, it is on to Saratoga, and the Travers Stakes (G1) ... the "4th leg" of the fabled series.  

Here are the Payouts ...

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