MO DONEGAL, 3yo colt, (Uncle M0 – Callingmissbrown, by Pulpit)
Owner(s): Donegal Racing
Breeder(s): Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stable (KY)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Donegal Racing bought Mo Donegal for $250,000 as a yearling from Ashview Farm’s consignment at the 2020 September Keeneland Yearling Sale.
In his second career start, Mo Donegal broke his maiden. He came back from a sluggish start to win a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on dirt at Belmont Park by 1 1/2 lengths.
Mo Donegal’s next start was in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct on December 4th. He got out to a slow start, then took the lead down the stretch and held off Zandon’s (Upstart) desperate challenge to win. Mo Donegal won 10 points on his way to the Kentucky Derby for his victory.
On February 5, 2022, Mo Donegal made his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park. He had a strong finish but finished third, 2 1/2 lengths behind the winner. For his efforts, he received two more qualifying points for a potential start in the Kentucky Derby.
The pedigree of Mo Donegal contains enough stamina to compete in the Kentucky Derby. But, more crucially, it contains Uncle Mo’s quickness and early precocity. There is such a thing as having too much stamina for the Derby, but Mo Donegal, who possesses the right genetic combination of speed and stamina, should be well-suited to victory on May 7th.
OPTIMAL Mating Analysis
Horses bred on OPTIMAL Matings have proven to possess more potential to become superior racehorses. In fact, most will break their maiden in the first two starts. Combined with a good physical, good vetting and a price that falls within a budget, OPTIMAL Matings help to focus on buying or breeding better racehorses.
4 Sire Families (8C, 3L, 12D, 3G) & 5 Running Families (4N, A4, 3L, 2F, 3G)
Good Combination of Female Families
Good Outcross Percentage
Good Linebreeding Balance
Good Grandsire / Granddam Linebreeding Percentages
Good Gender Linebreeding Balance
Key Linebreedings
- 6,6,5×6,6 Northern Dancer – through sons Sovereign Dancer, Danzig, Dixieland Band, Storm Bird & Nureyev
- 6×5,6 Raise A Native – gender balanced through daughter Suspicious Native and son Mr. Prospector
- 6×6 Nashua – gender balanced through son Diplomat Way and daughter Gold Digger
Similar Breedings
- Exact Positions of Northern Dancer linebreeding
- Grade 2 Stakes Winner
- Man From Uncle (Uncle Mo o/o Danehill Dancer mare)
- Grade 3 Stakes Winner
- Shane’s Girlfriend (Adios Charlie o/o Proud Citizen mare)
- 13 Listed Stakes Winners
- Grade 2 Stakes Winner
- Exact Positions of Raise A Native Linebreeding
- Grade 1 Stakes Winner
- Mo Forza (Uncle Mo o/o Unusual Heat mare)
- Grade 2 Stakes Winners
- Man From Uncle (Uncle Mo o/o Danehill Dancer mare)
- Sneaking Out (Indian Evening o/o Kitten’s Joy mare)
- Grade 3 Stakes Winners
- Miss Mo Mentum (Uncle Mo o/o Mineshaft mare)
- Life’s A Parlay (Uncle Mo o/o Tale of the Cat mare)
- 4 Listed Stakes Winners
- Grade 1 Stakes Winner
- Exact Positions of Nashua Linebreeding
- Grade 3 Stakes Winners
- Miss Mo Mentum (Uncle Mo o/o Mineshaft mare)
- Life’s A Parlay (Uncle Mo o/o Tale of the Cat mare)
- 4 Listed Stakes Winners
- Grade 3 Stakes Winners
- Uncle Mo over Pulpit
- 1 Grade 2 Stakes Winner
- 1 Grade 3 Stakes Winner
- 2 Listed Stakes Winners
- Uncle Mo over A.P. Indy
- 3 Grade 1 Stakes Winner
- 3 Grade 2 Stakes Winner
- 5 Grade 3 Stakes Winner
- 7 Listed Stakes Winners
- Indian Charlie over A.P. Indy
- 1 Grade 1 Stakes Winner
- 2 Grade 2 Stakes Winner
- 2 Grade 3 Stakes Winner
- 2 Listed Stakes Winners
- In Excess over Pulpit
- 1 Grade 2 Stakes Winner
- 1 Grade 3 Stakes Winner
- 4 Listed Stakes Winners
- In Excess over A.P. Indy
- 7 Grade 1 Stakes Winner
- 3 Grade 2 Stakes Winner
- 5 Grade 3 Stakes Winner
- 12 Listed Stakes Winners
- Arch over Pulpit
- 1 Grade 1 Stakes Winner
- 2 Grade 2 Stakes Winner
- 1 Grade 3 Stakes Winner
- 3 Listed Stakes Winners
- Arch over A.P. Indy
- 6 Grade 1 Stakes Winner
- 6 Grade 2 Stakes Winner
- 7 Grade 3 Stakes Winner
- 12 Listed Stakes Winners
Whether you are new to the game, experiencing more losses than wins or just looking for a new approach, I am confident that I can help you breed or buy a better racehorse. To find out more about OPTIMAL Matings and how they can help your program, please subscribe to my Blog/News page HERE to receive future information on complimentary mating recommendations, sales short lists, stakes winner pedigree analysis, news on personal client success and any other random thoughts or ideas that I may have. Also, receive a complimentary copy of my report “Blind Luck or Designed Luck? – How A Kentucky Derby Winner Was Bred” sent directly to your inbox.
For inquiries or more information about Shepherd Equine Advisers, please contact Clark Shepherd at 859-321-6618, or by email at clark@bloodstock-agent-ky.com.
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