The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Durante, Buckley part owners of Mo Donegal
North Haven residents Ralph Durante and John Buckley have owned racehorses in a partnership and friendship that began 24 years ago with many memorable experiences along the way.
The racing partnership took a step up to the big time eight years ago when they decided to partner with the Donegal Racing syndicate. In 2015, through Donegal, they became part owners of Keen Ice, who competed in the Kentucky Derby.
“Nothing can really describe the feeling you have running a horse in the Kentucky Derby,” Durante said at the time. “As a racehorse owner, it’s something you dream about. Just being in the race is something special.”
Keen Ice ended up seventh in the 2015 Kentucky Derby. On Saturday, that special feeling of having a horse in the Derby returns with Durante and Buckley part owners of live long shot Mo Donegal at 10-1.
“Ralph and I are thrilled to be back in the Derby,” Buckley said. “Mo Donegal has been a promising colt since last summer at Saratoga. Jerry Crawford (CEO of Donegal Racing) does a terrific job in selecting these horses that can compete in the Kentucky Derby.
“He is bred to get the distance, fast enough and
coming up to the race the right way. We are hoping for some racing luck because you need a few breaks in a 20-horse field. We are thrilled to be able to spend the day with our families and enjoy this great race.”
Mo Donegal is a late closer and drew the tough No. 1 post position. The race is scheduled to start at 6:57 p.m. Due to the large 20horse field, typically in the in the first part of the Kentucky Derby, the outside horses veer in toward the rail to get position. The inside horses tend to get squeezed back if they don’t expend the energy needed to move forward.
Despite the tough draw, Mo Donegal has a lot working for him in a race that is considered wide open.
Mo Donegal qualified for the Derby with an off-thepace win in the Wood Memorial Stakes on April 9 at Aqueduct. The colt was in last place at one point before surging ahead at the far turn. He caught the leader, Early Voting, in the home stretch near the finish line for the win by a neck.
Another positive is that Mo Donegal has a win over 3-1 Derby favorite Zandon, showcasing his speed when he held off Zandon to win the Remsen Stakes in December. Another plus is having trainer Todd Pletcher, and Mo Donegal has the pedigree that indicates he can get the distance of the race and be competitive. His sire, Uncle Mo, fathered 2016 Derby winner Nyquist.
Donegal Racing has had a pair of third-place finishes in the Derby with Paddy O’Prado (2010) and Dullahan (2012).
In a Donegal press release, Crawford said the horse is well-suited and prepared for the heavy traffic of the Kentucky Derby.
“A recent article said that Mo Donegal has the fastest closing fractions in the country by quite some margin,” Crawford said. “At Aqueduct, he closed 12 lengths. No other horse did that in any race on that track while we were there. I’m optimistic for the mile and a quarter on May 7. We have great confidence in Mo Donegal, more than any other horse we’ve brought this far.”
Durante and Buckley, usually cautiously optimistic with their horses, believe Mo Donegal will have himself in position to make a strong challenge at the end.
“I am so proud of Mo Donegal,” Durante said. “It’s the most difficult challenge to have 30,000 3-yearolds out there and only 20 make it to the Derby. Then to have one of the top five in the race, that is special.
“Somehow, Mo will find a way to navigate the one pole and have a shot at the end. It’s all about the trip. If he stays out of trouble and can make his way to the home stretch and close, he will be tough.”
How does Mo Donegal compare to Keen Ice, the first Derby horse for Durante and Buckley? Keen Ice went on to take third in the Belmont Stakes and defeated Triple Crown winner American Pharoah with a win in the 2015 Travers Stakes at Saratoga.
“At this stage of his career, Mo Donegal is further along and more accomplished than Keen Ice,” Buckley said. “Keen Ice did not make significant forward movement until later in his 3-year-old year.”
Durante said Keen Ice actually needed two horses to drop out (injuries) to get into the 2015 Kentucky Derby.
“After the Derby is when Keen Ice started progressing each race starting with the Belmont, Haskell and then winning the Travers,” Durante said. “Mo has already won the Remsen and Wood Memorial.
“No matter what happens Saturday, Mo has given us a lot of enjoyment, and hopefully we have the rest of his 3-year-old career ahead of us. Joining the Donegal team has been a real treat for John and I.”