2022 Belmont Stakes winner: Mo Donegal wins as a 5/2 favorite with a huge burst on the stretch to pull away

Mo Donegal Getty 2022 Belmont Stakes
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Mo Donegal is the winner of the 154th Belmont Stakes in an official time of 2:28.28. This is Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher's fourth time winning the Belmont.

Pletcher's previous victories at Belmont Stakes were with Rags to Riches in 2007, Palace Malice in 2013 and Tapwrit in 2017. Saturday was a terrific day at the racetrack for him, as his other trainee in the race, Nest, finished in second place. 

"This is my Derby," owner Mike Repole told NBC Sports after the race. "This has been a dream that I've had for 40 years. This is the biggest goal I had in my racing life, and I just accomplished it, and I ran 1-2."

Repole, born and raised in New York, came close to winning a little more than a decade ago. He was emotional as he talked about finally achieved his dream.

"In 2011, I came in second with Stay Thirsty," he said. "I watched the replay 150 times. I will no longer watch that replay."

The odds were in Mo Donegal's favor, as historically, the betting favorite had won the Belmont Stakes more than 42% of the time. He came into the race as the top pick with 5/2 odds and also had a solid resume in New York, as all three of his previous wins had happened there. 

He also had a good teammate in Irad Ortiz. The 29-year-old Puerto Rican jockey has a solid reputation in the Empire State and had won the Belmont Stakes in 2016 with Creator. Ortiz is a three-time Eclipse Award winner, receiving the honor in three consecutive years from 2018 to 2020. Success runs in the family as his brother, Jose Ortiz, won this year's Preakness Stakes with Early Voting, who did not compete this weekend.

No horses this year took part in all three legs of the Triple Crown. Mo Donegal finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby, but had a much better performance on Saturday. He was in the middle of the pack for a good part of the race, as We the People -- the favorite when the morning line odds dropped -- took an early lead. Skippylongstocking was in the second position and was trying to take over, but Mo Donegal came up from fifth place and began overtaking his competitors with a strong push toward the end.

"I'm always going to be Mike from Queens," Repole said. "This is New York's biggest race, and to win it here, with family, friends, I'm sort of overwhelmed."

Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike finished sixth. This is the first time ever that three different horses have won the Triple Crown races in four consecutive years.  

Belmont Stakes results, payouts

6 - Mo Donegal WIN: $7.20 PLACE: $3.80 SHOW: $3.00
3 - Nest PLACE: $5.30 SHOW: $4.10
2 - Skippylongstocking SHOW: $5.60

$2.00 Exacta 6-3 $27.60
$1.00 Trifecta 6-3-2 $187.50
$1.00 Superfecta 6-3-2-1 $692.00

Belmont Stakes order of finish

  1. Mo Donegal
  2. Nest
  3. Skippylongstockin
  4. We the People
  5. Creative Minister
  6. Rich Strike
  7. Barber Road
  8. Golden Glider
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The eight horses competing are on the track and heading to the gates. The post time is set for approximately 6:44 p.m. ET.

 
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June 11, 2022, 10:39 PM
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New York Governor Kathy Hochul said Riders up! The parade to the gate is underway.

 
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June 11, 2022, 10:33 PM
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Only three fillies (females) have won the Belmont Stakes in the history of the event. Nest, trained by Todd Pletcher, is attempting to become the fourth.

Fillies to win Belmont Stakes:

  • Rags to Riches (2007)
  • Tanya (1905)
  • Ruthless (1867)
 
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June 11, 2022, 10:15 PM
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No horses competing in the Belmont Stakes today took part in all three legs of the Triple Crown this year.

Horses that ran in the Kentucky Derby:

  • Rich Strike: won the Derby (2nd-biggest longshot at 80/1 odds)
  • Mo Donegal: finished 5th
  • Barber Road: finished 6th

Horses that ran in the Preakness:

  • Creative Minister: finished 3rd
  • Skippylongstocking: finished 5th
 
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June 11, 2022, 10:07 PM
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June 11, 2022, 9:53 PM
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This will mark the fourth straight year without a Triple Crown winner. However, Rich Strike could still make history by becoming the 12th horse to win the Kentucky Derby & Belmont in the same year.

Horses to win the Kentucky Derby & Belmont Stakes in same Triple Crown season:

  • 1995 Thunder Gulch
  • 1984 Swale
  • 1976 Bold Forbes
  • 1972 Riva Ridge
  • 1963 Chateaugay
  • 1956 Needles
  • 1950 Middleground
  • 1942 Shut Out
  • 1939 Johnstown
  • 1931 Twenty Grand
  • 1923 Zev
 
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June 11, 2022, 9:49 PM
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Belmont Stakes is traditionally the last leg of the American Triple Crown of horse racing. It is referred to as the "Test of the Champion" because it is the longest of those races at 1 1/2 miles, or 12 furlongs. Because of the length, tactical speed is important. The purse is $1.5 million.

 
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June 11, 2022, 9:30 PM
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Closing Odds for the 154th Belmont Stakes

  1. We the People 7/2
  2. Skippylongstocking 11/1
  3. Nest (filly) 5/1
  4. Rich Strike 4/1
  5. Creative Minister 7/1
  6. Mo Donegal 5/2
  7. Golden Glider 14/1
  8. Barber Road 8/1
 
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Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will try to win Belmont Stakes for the fourth time in his career. He brought two horses today: Mo Donegal and Nest. The current odds have them both as top three favorites. The 54-year-old won the Test of the Champion with Rags to Riches (2007), Palace Malice (2013) and Tapwrit (2017).

 
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June 11, 2022, 8:58 PM
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Welcome to CBS Sports' official live blog for the 154th Belmont Stakes. It's an overcast day and the National Weather Service is forecasting 20% chance of showers for this afternoon and evening, with a high temperature of 72 degrees. The post time is 6:44 p.m. ET.

Historically, the betting favorite has won 42.5% of the time. The morning line odds had We the People as the top pick with 2/1 odds. He is currently at 5/1, while Mo Donegal has taken over as the favorite with 5/2 odds.There will not be a Triple Crown winner today, but Kentucky Derby champion Rich Strike is looking to become the first horse to win both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont in the same year since Thunder Gulch did so in 1995. 

Here are the contenders along with their post positions: 

  1. We the People
  2. Skippylongstocking
  3. Nest (filly)
  4. Rich Strike
  5. Creative Minister
  6. Mo Donegal
  7. Golden Glider
  8. Barber Road
 
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June 11, 2022, 8:50 PM
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