Donegal Racing announces April 29 that it has sold minority interest in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) Mo Donegal for Mike Repole.
Price and ownership percentage were not disclosed.
Donegal Racing president Jerry Crawford said: “We couldn’t be happier to have Mike Repole join us as a partner in Mo Donegal’s quest to win the Kentucky Derby.” “With Donegal bringing 300 partners and friends to Derby and Mike bringing his entourage, Mo will have more support than the New York Mets.
“Both Mike and I enjoy working with Todd Pletcher and Irad Ortiz so this arrangement is natural.”
Mo Donegal is the son of a stallion Ashford Stud . Uncle Mo , the undefeated 2-year-old champion of 2010, who was campaigned by Repole and coached by Pletcher. Mo Donegal’s mare is Callmissbrown via Pulp .
“I am delighted to be joining Mo Donegal with Jerry Crawford and the partners of Donegal Racing,” said Repole. “In my 15 years of racing, this will be the first time I’ve partnered with someone with a larger entourage than me. While having some great conversations with Jerry, this partnership means a lot. Big for Repole Stable Trained by Todd Pletcher, ridden by Irad Ortiz, and most especially, my Uncle Mo’s son As a racing fan, I’ve been extremely impressed with Mo Donegal , and I’m excited to watch him and his brilliance as master.”
Mo Donegal marked himself among the top 2-year-olds last year with a landslide victory in Water troughsRemsen Stakes (G2) winner 1 1/8 miles away from future winner Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) Zandon . He returns to New York in early 2022 to attend the Wood Memorial Stakes presented by Resorts World Casino (G2), rallying on a speed-loving track to get the upper hand over Zandon’s steady friend. Vote early .
Mo Donegal, a $250,000 purchase at the September 2020 Keeneland Promotion, won three of the five launches, with two-thirds, with earnings of $621,800.
Mo Donegal, named after a town in Ireland, was founded by Crawford in 2008 with the goal of acquiring stallions to develop into the Kentucky Derby. The Iowa-based organization has had three Derby starts, with a level 1 winner Paddy O’Prado (2010) and Dullahan (2012) both Tuesday. Keen Ice placed seventh in the 2015 Derby but recovered to win Racecourse SaratogaTravers Shares (G1) vs American Pharoah.
Repole hopes that a bit of Irish luck can help him find the Kentucky Derby mojo. The Queens native’s best Derby finish of the six previous starts is ninth, coming in 2018 with Vino Rosso who went on to capture the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) in 2019.
