Mo Donegal (USA)
April 19, 2019 – Living
Uncle Mo (USA) x Callingmissbrown (USA), by Pulpit (USA)
Family 3-g
April 19, 2019 – Living
Uncle Mo (USA) x Callingmissbrown (USA), by Pulpit (USA)
Family 3-g
A consistent come-from-behind runner, Mo Donegal was a horse for the long run. He reached the pinnacle of his career in defeating his stablemate, American champion 3-year-old filly Nest, for the Belmont Stakes (USA-G1), but was diagnosed with bone bruising soon afterward. After if became apparent that he would have to miss the major fall races of 2022, he was retired to stud with his full abilities unexplored.
Race record
7 starts, 4 wins, 0 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,511,800
2021:
2022:
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds in the Long category on the 2022 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 20 pounds below overall highweight Flightline (the American Horse of the Year); 6 pounds below the top horse in the Long category, Equinox (the Japanese Horse of the Year); and 5 pounds below the top 3-year-old male on dirt, American champion 3-year-old male Epicenter.
As an individual
An athletic, good-looking bay horse, Mo Donegal typically came from off the pace. As a youngster, he was the dominant colt of his group but was easy to handle; trainer Todd Pletcher described him as having a good mind. He was retired after the Belmont Stakes due to bone bruising.
As a stallion
Mo Donegal entered stud in Kentucky in 2023 at Spendthrift Farm. His first foals will be juveniles of 2026.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Mo Donegal was bred by the Lyster family’s Ashview Farm and Richard Santulli’s Colts Neck Stables. A US$250,000 yearling purchase from the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sale, he was owned by Donegal Racing. Prior to the Kentucky Derby, Mike Repole's Repole Stable bought a minority interest in the colt. Mo Donegal was trained by Todd Pletcher and was ridden to his Belmont Stakes win by Irad Ortiz Jr. The horse entered stud in 2023 in Kentucky at Spendthrift Farm.
Pedigree notes
Mo Donegal is outcrossed through five generations. He is the second foal of the winner Callingmissbrown, whose dam Island Sand (by Tabasco Cat) won the 2004 Acorn Stakes (USA-G1) and is a half sister to 2006 Mexican champion 2-year-old male Pozo de Luna (by Famous Again).
Island Sand, in turn, is out of the unraced Forty Niner mare Sue’s Last Dance, a half sister to 2004 Queen’s Plate winner Niigon (by Unbridled). The next dam in Mo Donegal’s tail-female line, Savethelastdance (by Nureyev), is a stakes-placed half sister to three-time Canadian champion Eternal Search (by Northern Answer), Australian Group 3 winner Raslaan (by Shareef Dancer), and multiple stakes winner Gone to Royalty (by Royal Chocolate).
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Mo Donegal’s win in the Belmont Stakes can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qiZ5wq7gBU.
Fun facts
Last updated: June 17, 2025
Race record
7 starts, 4 wins, 0 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,511,800
2021:
- Won Remsen Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Aqueduct)
2022:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Holy Bull Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds in the Long category on the 2022 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 20 pounds below overall highweight Flightline (the American Horse of the Year); 6 pounds below the top horse in the Long category, Equinox (the Japanese Horse of the Year); and 5 pounds below the top 3-year-old male on dirt, American champion 3-year-old male Epicenter.
As an individual
An athletic, good-looking bay horse, Mo Donegal typically came from off the pace. As a youngster, he was the dominant colt of his group but was easy to handle; trainer Todd Pletcher described him as having a good mind. He was retired after the Belmont Stakes due to bone bruising.
As a stallion
Mo Donegal entered stud in Kentucky in 2023 at Spendthrift Farm. His first foals will be juveniles of 2026.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Mo Donegal was bred by the Lyster family’s Ashview Farm and Richard Santulli’s Colts Neck Stables. A US$250,000 yearling purchase from the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sale, he was owned by Donegal Racing. Prior to the Kentucky Derby, Mike Repole's Repole Stable bought a minority interest in the colt. Mo Donegal was trained by Todd Pletcher and was ridden to his Belmont Stakes win by Irad Ortiz Jr. The horse entered stud in 2023 in Kentucky at Spendthrift Farm.
Pedigree notes
Mo Donegal is outcrossed through five generations. He is the second foal of the winner Callingmissbrown, whose dam Island Sand (by Tabasco Cat) won the 2004 Acorn Stakes (USA-G1) and is a half sister to 2006 Mexican champion 2-year-old male Pozo de Luna (by Famous Again).
Island Sand, in turn, is out of the unraced Forty Niner mare Sue’s Last Dance, a half sister to 2004 Queen’s Plate winner Niigon (by Unbridled). The next dam in Mo Donegal’s tail-female line, Savethelastdance (by Nureyev), is a stakes-placed half sister to three-time Canadian champion Eternal Search (by Northern Answer), Australian Group 3 winner Raslaan (by Shareef Dancer), and multiple stakes winner Gone to Royalty (by Royal Chocolate).
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Mo Donegal’s win in the Belmont Stakes can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qiZ5wq7gBU.
Fun facts
- Mo Donegal and Nest, who finished 1-2 in the 2022 Belmont Stakes, were stablemates as both were trained by Todd Pletcher. In addition, both were bred by the partnership of Ashview Farm and Colts View Stables, and they were ridden by the brothers Irad Ortiz Jr. (on Mo Donegal) and José Ortiz (on Nest).
Last updated: June 17, 2025