Donegal Racing and Repole Stable’s Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo–Callingmissbrown, by Pulpit), last seen endorsing bias with a three-length win in GI Belmont S. presented by NYRA Bets June 11, retired and will participate in the 2023 spawning season at Spendthrift Farm. He will ask for a $20,000 fee, stands, and nurse terms.
Bred in Kentucky by Ashview Stud of the Lyster family in partnership with Richard Santulli’s Colts Neck Stables – also breeders of the Belmont S. runner-up and lead 3-year-old Nest (Curlin) –Mo Donegal was purchased by operation Jerry Crawford for $250,000 from Ashview consignment at a September 2020 sale in Keeneland and transferred to trainer Todd Pletcher, whom he won got two out of three starts as a teenager, including a crushing defeat against GI in the future. Toyota Blue Grass S hero Zandon. (Start up) in an amazing renovation by GII Remsen S. last December.
Slow off to a slow start, even placing third in GIII Holy Bull S. with a seasonal return this past February, Mo Donegal returned with a battle count at the GII Wood Memorial, taking the next GI spot. Preakness S. wins Early Voting (Gunman). Donegal announced eight days before the GI Kentucky Derby that Mike Repole had won a minority interest in the colt, who was eliminated by just over 10-1 to Run for the Roses, falling behind. After a lot after breaking from the rail, 10 wide into the lane and home well to about fifth, defeated just under four lengths. Picking 5-2 for Belmont, Mo Donegal picked up the pace at a faster pace and finished full to score three intervals. In early July, Donegal reported that Mo Donegal had bruised bones and would be out for 60 days. He returned to the ranch with a 4-0-2 record after seven starts and made $1,511,800.
Crawford said: “The Donegal Racing partners and I couldn’t be prouder of Mo Donegal and the special positions he has taken us over the past two seasons. “The timing of the bone bruise is unfortunate and will not allow us to do any target races for the rest of the year. We feel the best decision is to retire him and we are delighted that he will have the great opportunity to make a great steed in a place like Spendthrift. “
Mo Donegal is one of three winners from three races for her dam, whose Pletcher-trained 2-year-old daughter Prank (Into Mischief), a $500,000 KEESEP purchase, is named as Prank (Into Mischief). ‘Rising star TDN’ with a strong debut win lasting 9 3/4 in Saratoga on July 31. Callmissbrown is the daughter of 2004 GI heroine Acorn S. Island Sand (Tabasco Cat), herself the dam of a teenager. I Maya Malibu (Malibu Moon), while the deeper female family includes the winner of Queen’s Plate Niigon (Unbridled). Callmissbrown is back with the pony to Uncle Mo.
Ned Toffey, general manager of Spendthrift, which hosts the Repole, said: “It’s always exciting when you can get a prospective stallion of the caliber of Mo Donegal, and we thank Jerry Crawford, Mike Repole and Donegal Racing partners. – Winner of the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic is granted ownership of Vino Rosso (Curlin) is also an abbreviation. “It is not often that you can give breeders a Classic winner by an emerging herd of bulls, Uncle Mo seems to be. On top of that, Mo Donegal is handsome, comes from a smart and active family, is a 2 year old graded bet winner and beats some of the best from a pretty good crop of people. 3 year old child this year. We expected him to be extremely popular, and we invited breeders to come see him.”
Pletcher added: “The Classic winners through our program will always be special to me, and Mo Donegal showed in his Belmont Stakes, winning what we always thought of him, ‘ Pletcher said. “We went into this year’s (Kentucky) Derby with a lot of confidence, but a hole too big to get through. Obviously trained Uncle Mo, it’s great for us to be able to advocate for one of his best sons. Mo Donegal has shown tremendous talent from the moment we first brought him to two years old, and he has always been a very classy, good-minded and good-looking pony. I have to imagine the breeders would love him. “
WATCH: Mo Donegal beats GI Belmont S.
