Morley weighing turf, dirt options for Donegal Momentum

Following his win in a third-level allowance race on turf on March 6 at Fair Grounds, Donegal Momentum has returned to New York to train as trainer Tom Morley weighs where to run the dual-surface winner next.

While Morley said the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile on turf on April 11 at Keeneland is likely, the trainer said he also would have him nominated to the Grade 2, $300,000 Carter going seven furlongs on dirt on April 5 at Aqueduct. Donegal Momentum has a win and a second from three starts on dirt, and Morley said the horse would run on dirt at some point again this year.

“He’s run equal numbers on turf and dirt,” Morley said. “It’s hard to take him off the turf, he’s quite accomplished on it, but he’s run two extremely good races on the dirt and I definitely plan on exploring that option again a some point this year.”

Donegal Momentum, a son of Uncle Mo, is 3 for 4 on turf with a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby.

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