New York-Trainer Todd Pletcher beat the stable Nest 1-2 at the 2,400m event where Modnigor won the Belmont Stakes on Saturday and won the triple crown of the US flat race.
This was Pletcher’s fourth victory after winning Rags To Riches in 2007, Palace Malice in 2013, and Tapwrit in 2017.
Mo Donegal, who finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby, became a 5-2 favorite with Irad Ortiz Jr. on the irons.
He wiped out the early pacesetter WethePeople and powered down the stretch to win.
The female nest on which Irad’s brother Jose rode stumbled from the gate, but closed tightly to take second place ahead of Skippylongstocking.
“We were really happy with how we trained both horses,” Pletcher said.
“It was a kind of déjà vu when Next stumbled. But she recovered and was in a good position. I thought both horses had a much better journey.”
Mike Repole, owner of MoDonegal, says it was a dream for 40 years.
Added a native New Yorker: “This is the biggest race in New York. I’m a little overwhelmed to win here with family and friends.”
Saddled by American-based French trainer Rodolph Bresset, We The People on the French jockey Flabian Platt made a smart break from the first gate, traveling about 1,600 meters and then 4 Finished in the place.
Rich Strike, who surprised the racing world with a long shot of 80-1 with the victory of the Kentucky Derby, could not repeat the magic.
With Sunny Leone of Venezuela riding again, he escaped from Gate 4 on the field of eight horses and he chased the field early.
Unlike Churchill Downs five weeks ago, he couldn’t find a way and finished in 6th place.
“I think it was a mistake we didn’t put him on the fence,” trainer Eric Reed said of the decision not to let Leon take Rich Strike to the rails.
He added that Rich Strike was “not aggressive” in the middle of the track and never dug down because of slow movements.
“I think we made a tactical mistake. We have to teach him how to run around the horse.
“Our biggest change today was to try to give him a good open run when he took off, a little off the rails.
“He’s a normal horse and this is the first time he’s not on the inside rails.
“All the time. Looking at it, seeing his head heading inward, I think it was a mistake that we didn’t put him on the fence.”
Rich Strike was when owner Rick Dawson decided to skip the second gem, Preakness Stakes, to rest the chestnut colts of the Belmont Marathon, known as the “Champion’s Test.” I gave up the shot with the triple crown. -AFP, Reuters
