Takeaways from 2022 Belmont Stakes

Jun 15, 2022 James Scully/TwinSpires.com

Saturday’s $1.5 million Belmont S. (G1) concluded the 2022 Triple
Crown, and form held as 5-2 favorite Mo
Donegal proved best in the 1 1/2-mile race.

Measure of
redemption

Mo Donegal
established himself as a major Kentucky Derby contender with an outstanding win
in the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct, edging next-out Preakness winner Early
Voting by a neck, but the Todd Pletcher-trained colt drew the rail post and
didn’t experience a favorable trip at Churchill Downs, breaking slowly and
traveling ridiculously wide in recording a fast-closing fifth.

He rebounded stylishly in the Belmont.

Owned by Jerry Crawford’s Donegal Racing and Mike Repole, Mo
Donegal established a stalking trip in midpack with Irad Ortiz Jr., racing
within a few lengths of pacesetter We the People, and the bay sophomore began
to advance on the final turn. He accelerated three-wide into the stretch, powering
his way to a clear lead, and rolled home to a three-length decision.

Mo Donegal registered an outstanding 111 Brisnet Speed
rating, equaling the 111 he earned in the Wood Memorial two starts previously.
The Wood produced two of the three Triple Crown race winners.

The son of Uncle Mo has enjoyed a home-court advantage in
New York, winning four straight starts including three stakes. The Breeders’
Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland is the ultimate goal this fall, but Mo Donegal can
race exclusively in New York until then, targeting the Jim Dandy (G2) on July
30 and Aug. 27 Travers (G1) at Saratoga, and the Woodward (G1) at Belmont Park
in late September/early October.

Filly makes
statement; Derby winner comes up short

Overlooked at 6-1 following a runner-up in the Kentucky Oaks
(G1), Nest delivered a commendable
effort finishing a clear second.

The Curlin filly won three consecutive stakes prior to the
Oaks, but Nest wound up too far back during the early stages of the important
filly test. Her grinding run style is more effective when able to race closer,
which she did during the early stages of the Belmont, and Nest netted a
career-best 108 Speed figure on Saturday.

She’s well-positioned for the second half of the season in
the three-year-old filly division.

Following an 80-1 upset in the Kentucky Derby, Rich Strike never made any impact from
off the pace and checked in sixth in the Belmont. The late-running colt had
shown a preference for inside trips in his last two outings, but Sonny Leon kept
his mount well off the rail for the stretch drive.

Compelling
championship scramble

Mo Donegal
confirmed himself as a major player in the three-year-old division, but it is a
deep field.

Chad Brown has a trio of championship hopefuls.

Preakness winner Early
Voting and Blue Grass (G1) winner and Kentucky Derby third-placer Zandon remain lightly-raced types with
room for further development. And unbeaten Jack
Christopher, a 10-length winner of the seven-furlong Woody Stephens (G1) on
Saturday, is arguably the most exciting three-year-old in training. He’s slated
to make his two-turn debut in the July 23 Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park.

Santa Anita Derby (G1) victor Taiba could also be Haskell-bound, and Kentucky Derby and Preakness
runner-up Epicenter, who is
targeting the Travers, remains a serious contender in the division.

The Triple Crown featured most of the principals, and we
have some terrific races still to come.