Donegal Momentum gets back on turf against softer company

After an unsuccessful attempt in a graded stakes on dirt, Donegal Momentum drops back into allowance company while returning to the turf in a multi-conditioned race going one mile Thursday at Aqueduct.

Donegal Momentum, trained by Tom Morley, is 3 for 4 on turf including a victory in the Gio Ponti Stakes going a mile at Aqueduct last year. His lone defeat on turf came by one length when finishing third in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby last fall at Del Mar.

In March, Donegal Momentum won a third-level allowance going a mile at Fair Grounds. Though this race is also listed as a third-level allowance, Donegal Momentum is eligible under the condition that states for horses “which have not won $45,000 in 2025.” He earned $33,000 for his Fair Grounds win.

Morley was pointing Donegal Momentum to the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland on April 11. But Keeneland absorbed a lot of rain the week before and Morley felt his horse needed firm turf to compete against the likes of Carl Spackler, who won by 4 1/4 lengths.

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Donegal Momentum had run well on dirt to begin his career and Morley thought the Grade 2 Carter was an opportunity to see how competitive the horse would be in a graded dirt stakes. He ran fifth, beaten 6 1/2 lengths by Crazy Mason.

“He ran like a very talented horse who’s better on turf,” Morley said. “We hope the weather cooperates and we stay on the turf. This is a very competitive three-other-than, but this is a stepping-stone toward the Poker [on June 5]. I’m looking forward to getting him back on the grass over a course he’s won a stakes on.”

Donegal Momentum breaks from the rail under Javier Castellano.

Morley also runs Son of a Birch, who has only tried routing once on turf and that was in his second start where he got keen and ran off. Thursday, Morley is hoping for a more settled trip.

Morley said he plans to instruct Jose Lezcano “to sit chilly and be out the back and see what he’s got at the end of the race,” Morley said.

Big Everest, who has a 5-1-1 record from seven turf starts at Aqueduct, makes his seasonal debut for Christophe Clement. Big Everest was beaten a neck by Running Bee in the Artie Schiller Stakes last November. Running Bee won the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes in February and last Saturday was beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Spirit of St Louis in the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic at Churchill Downs.

Hush of a Storm, trained by Brad Cox, takes a drop in class after running third in the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway Park. Mercante, the winner of that race, came back to run second, beaten a half-length by Spirit of St Louis, in the Turf Classic.

Ruse, Wonderful Justice, and Sherlock’s Jewel round out the field.

One race earlier, in a similarly conditioned race on dirt at seven furlongs, Morley sends out Twenty Four Mamba, a horse he claimed for $62,500 on April 5. Twenty Four Mamba is in for the optional $100,000 claiming price.

“On numbers he ran one of the fastest numbers of his life when we claimed him,” said Morley, who noted he won a three-way shake to get the horse. “He’s had enough time to get his feet back under him. He probably showed more speed last time than he has previously. If he can replicate that he’ll be very competitive.”

Ricardo Santana Jr. rides Twenty Four Mamba from the rail.

Octane, making her first start for Amelia Green, has shown speed going seven furlongs. Rotknee, 3 for 3 at seven furlongs, is also a forward running type. Nelson Avenue adds to the pace equation.

Nova Rags, with Junior Alvarado riding for Bill Mott, has a nice outside post to stalk and pounce if good enough.

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