It was a special day for Repole Racing. Mike Repole, the New York native and part of the ownership group of Mo Donegal and filly Nest, watched his lead pair finish 1-2 in the 154th running of the Belmont Stakes.
Morning-line favorite We the People led the race through the opening mile until post-time favorite Mo Donegal swung out and took control at the top of the lane. Mo Donegal won the 1 1/2 mile “Test of the Champion” in 2:28.28, with Nest finishing second.
Mo Donegal returned $7.20 to win, $3.80 to place, and $3.00 to show. Nest paid $5.30 and $4.10, and Skippylongstocking finished third for $5.60.
A $2 exacta with Mo Donegal and Nest paid $27.60, and a $1 trifecta was worth $187.60.
Belmont Stakes order of finish and odds
- Mo Donegal (5-2)
- Nest (5-1)
- Skippylongstocking (11-1)
- We the People (9-2)
- Creative Minister (7-1)
- Rich Strike (4-1)
- Barber Road (8-1)
- Golden Glider (14-1)
Mo Donegal proved best in this year’s Belmont Stakes, but huge long shot Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike never fired from the back and finished sixth. The Ortiz brothers, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. on Mo Donegal and Jose Ortiz on Nest, exchanged a high five as their horses galloped out past the finish line. Irad won his second Belmont Stakes, while Mo Donegal and Nest trainer Todd Pletcher was victorious in the Belmont Stakes for the fourth time.
Belmont Stakes Day betting handle
NYRA reported an all-sources handle of $98,766,906 on the Belmont Stakes card, down from $112,725,278 in 2021. $9,530,303 was bet at Belmont Park, up from $7.5 million in 2021. Attendance was reported at 46,301. The record handle is $150,249,399 in 2014 for California Chrome’s failed Triple Crown bid.
