ELMONT, N.Y. – Before the running of the 154th Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park, the familiar tune of “New York, New York” was played as the horses came onto the track. Apropos, is that for years owner Mike Repole, a native New Yorker, has been a part of it, though he had never won it. This time, though, when Repole awakens Sunday morning in the city that never sleeps, he’ll find he’s king of the hill, top of the heap. Mo Donegal, whom Repole owns with Donegal Racing and who was racing in Repole’s colors on Saturday, won the Belmont by an emphatic three lengths over the filly Nest, also co-owned by Repole, also wearing his silks. It was a dream finish for one of racing’s most-passionate owners, the victory all the sweeter in that Mo Donegal is a son of the champion Uncle Mo, whom Repole raced. “This is a dream I’ve had for 40 years,” said Repole, who was a fan as a youth before he hit it big in business – first with Vitamin Water – and had the means to own racehorses. “This is New York’s biggest race.” :: Play Belmont with confidence: Get DRF Past Performances, Picks, Clocker Reports, and Betting Strategies. The one-two finish by Mo Donegal and Nest, both trained by Todd Pletcher, was the latest Belmont success for the race’s pre-eminent trainer over the past 15 years. Pletcher has now won the race four times, with seven seconds. Mo Donegal, fifth in the Kentucky Derby in his last start, and Nest, second last time out in the Kentucky Oaks, both followed the template that Pletcher has used to win his previous three Belmonts – run in the Derby or Oaks, take five weeks off, settle into Belmont Park to train, and point for the final leg of the Triple Crown by bypassing the Preakness. Bypassing the Preakness was also the schedule for Rich Strike, the 80-1 upset winner of the Derby. But he was never a factor on Saturday in a race that unfolded at a sensible pace, unlike the Derby, where a blazingly fast pace enhanced his late charge. Rich Strike finished sixth in the field of eight Saturday, 13 1/4 lengths behind Mo Donegal, after beating him by 3 3/4 lengths at Churchill Downs. Mo Donegal, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., finished three lengths in front of Nest, who was 3 1/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher Skippylongstocking. We the People, the early pacesetter, tired to finish fourth, then came, in order, Creative Minister, Rich Strike, Barber Road, and Golden Glider. Mo Donegal completed the 1 1/2 miles on the fast main track in 2:28.28. He was sent off the 5-2 favorite and paid $7.20 for $2 to win. He gave Ortiz his second Belmont victory, following Creator in 2016. Mo Donegal earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 98. The Belmont was the last of eight Grade 1 races run on a Breeders’ Cup-style card that included several terrific performances, most notably from the brilliant, unbeaten Flightline in the Met Mile, and by the unbeaten Jack Christopher, whose runaway victory in the Woody Stephens was the first of three Grade 1 wins on the card for trainer Chad Brown. The weather was delightfully pleasant, with a temperature of about 73 degrees with light clouds when the Belmont was run. We the People, starting from the rail in the Belmont, went for the lead, as expected, made the top through an opening quarter in 23.99 seconds, and maintained the lead through a half in 48.49 and six furlongs in 1:13.23. Nest, however, stumbled at the start, though Pletcher tried to reason in his mind that it was a good omen, being as his first Belmont win came with the filly Rags to Riches, who also stumbled at the start. Skippylongstocking was closest to We the People early, with Nest saving ground along the inside, and Mo Donegal gradually advancing into an attacking position, from sixth to fourth, as the race progressed down the backside and around the far turn. By the top of the stretch, We the People was under pressure to try and maintain his lead, but he was weary. “It was just too far for him,” said his rider, Flavien Prat. Skippylongstocking briefly took the lead, but was immediately overtaken by Mo Donegal, who quickly opened a daylight lead in upper stretch. “Loved the trip that Irad was getting throughout,” Pletcher said. “Told him to be a little bit patient, that I believe the horse has the best last quarter-mile.” Nest had to wait briefly in traffic coming off the bend, but got out with plenty of time to try and go after Mo Donegal. Mo Donegal, though, was too strong. Nest completed an all Ortiz exacta, as Jose Ortiz, Irad’s brother, rode Nest. “I could have had a better trip if she doesn’t stumble out of there,” Jose Ortiz said. “She’s never been a great gate horse. She’s always been a step behind. But today she stumbled. I had to rush her to take position. “I had horse, but Irad was outside of me and he beat me to the punch. I just think he had the best horse today. It didn’t matter. My filly made a good run. I’m very proud of her.” As with the Ortiz brothers, it was a family affair for Repole, who invited scores of his closest family and friends to the track Saturday. He’d had six previous runners in the Belmont, either alone or in partnership, with the best result a second by Stay Thirsty in 2011. “This is the biggest goal I’ve had in my racing life,” said Repole, who called the result “surreal.” Repole was born in Queens, attended St. John’s, is such a big fan of the Mets that he tried to buy the team, and chose their blue and orange colors as base for his silks. :: Bet the races on DRF Bets! Sign up with code WINNING to get a $250 Deposit Match, $10 Free Bet, and FREE DRF Formulator. Mo Donegal had raced twice previously at Belmont, making his first two starts here last fall, including a maiden victory second time out. He’s been in stakes races ever since. He won the Grade 2 Remsen in December at Aqueduct, then was a late-running third in the Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream to begin his 3-year-old campaign prior to his previous biggest win, in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. In the Derby, Mo Donegal broke from the rail, was shuffled back early, and made a belated run, but still wasn’t as effective late as Rich Strike. On Saturday, he was in better position early, and took advantage of it. The victory was the fourth in seven starts for Mo Donegal, who is out of the Pulpit mare Callingmissbrown. He earned $800,000 from the gross purse of $1.5 million, bringing his career total to $1,511,800. Mike Repole won the Belmont. Start spreading the news. - additional reporting by Mike Welsch