Donegal Momentum Claims First Graded Stakes in Poker
With a smart front-end score in the $300,000 Poker Stakes (G3T) on the inner turf June 5 at Saratoga Race Course, Donegal Momentum added another accomplishment to his ever-building résumé.
A debut winner on the main track in May 2024 at Aqueduct Racetrack, Donegal Racing's Donegal Momentum has found his best footing on the turf, where he entered Thursday's one-mile test for older horses with a stakes win and grade 1 placing in last year's Hollywood Derby (G1T) at Del Mar.
"It's huge. It's huge," winning trainer Tom Morley said of securing the graded stakes win. "Winning graded stakes at Saratoga never, ever gets old, ever. Even the big guys enjoy it enormously."
Morley dedicated the win to his late, long-time assistant, John Attfield, who died last fall.
"For us, this horse has meant an awful lot," Morley said. "John absolutely adored this horse."
Winning rider Javier Castellano said the initial plan was to track Filo Di Arianna but when that multiple graded stakes winner was scratched from the race Thursday morning, he decided to try the front end. After breaking outward from the outside post in the field of seven, Donegal Momentum quickly found his stride and worked just a bit to get the lead before relaxing in the backstretch through a half-mile in :48.09. He cruised through the turn and responded with his best at the quarter pole on his way to a 1 3/4-length victory.
"That scratch changed everything," Castellano said. "Now I was able to get the lead and dictate the pace."
Donegal Momentum completed the race in 1:34.22. Intellect rallied late for second while never threatening the winner and Major Dude held third after tracking the winner throughout.
