Mo Donegal was piloted by jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. Ortiz, a three-time Eclipse Award winner, also won the Belmont Stakes 2016 with Creator.
“It’s very special, honestly,” Ortiz said after the race. “We were very positive.”
Competing in front of more than 46,000 people on the one and a half mile track, Mo Donegal was the 5-2 favorite among the eight horses that entered the race.
The horse ran across the track in 2 minutes and 28.28 seconds, comfortably overtaking Nest, who finished second and Skippylongstocking, who finished third.
With the victory, Hall of Fame coach Todd Pletcher got his fourth victory at Belmont Stakes.
After receiving the trophy from New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Jerry Crawford, the founder of Donegal Racing, said Saturday’s victory “shows that sport is more accessible to people than people think.”
“You don’t have to spend millions and millions on horses,” Crawford added.
Rich Strike, who surprised the world of horse racing after winning the Kentucky Derby, finished in sixth place. Earl Voting, the winner of the Preakness Stakes, did not compete on Saturday.