Donegal Momentum proves versatility again in Gio Ponti victory

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – He can handle multiple surfaces and has been successful using different running styles. Perhaps that’s why owner Jerry Crawford believes Donegal Momentum “could be a really special 4-year-old” in 2025.

Crawford made that comment after watching Donegal Momentum lead virtually gate to wire in winning Thursday’s $135,000 Gio Ponti Stakes for 3-year-olds on turf at Aqueduct. With Kendrick Carmouche subbing for the still-sidelined Javier Castellano, Donegal Momentum was able to get the lead rather easily through a quarter in 23.82 seconds. He maintained a clear advantage through moderate splits then ran off for a two-length victory in the one-mile turf stakes.

Royal Majesty rallied along the rail to get second by a neck over 2-1 favorite Take Me To Church.

The win was the third in five starts for Donegal Momentum, a 3-year-old son of Uncle Mo owned by Donegal Racing and trained by Tom Morley. His first win came in sharp fashion sprinting on dirt in May at Aqueduct. After two defeats on dirt, trainer Tom Morley moved him to turf where Donegal Momentum overcame a bobble at the start to rally from off the pace and win a first-level allowance narrowly at Saratoga. That set him up for the Gio Ponti.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.

“He is absolutely as good on the dirt as he is on turf,” Crawford said. “We’ll probably keep entering him on turf in big races and hope we get a little precipitation sometimes because not everybody can do what he can from a versatility standpoint.”

The key Thursday was getting Donegal Momentum away from the gate. Carmouche, riding Donegal Momentum for the first time, said he noticed the horse was a bit anxious in the gate in Saratoga when he got off last.

“I warmed him up like they told me to, he broke running, I didn’t have any reason to send him out of there, he fell right into the right spot,” Carmouche said. ”I had to slow it down from there and make every pole a winning one.”

Carmouche was pretty impressed what he felt underneath him.

“The stride on this horse is so smooth, I never felt one like this in a while on the grass that just glides over the top,” he said. “He’s pretty cool to ride.”

Donegal Momentum covered the mile in 1:35.44 on turf labeled firm and returned $10.80 to win.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.