Donegal Momentum (c, 3, Uncle Mo–Moon Dash, by Malibu Moon), bet down from a 9-2 morning line into a 'they-knew' 7-5 at the off, never truly looked like losing his racetrack debut on Thursday afternoon. He scored by 8 1/4 lengths, kicking on full steam into the final furlong and a half to become the latest 'TDN Rising Star' for his outstanding Coolmore-based stallion.
While training at Tom Morley's winter base at the Fair Grounds in March, he showed some promise and seemed to maintain that form once shipped north. On April 21, he worked an astounding half-mile from the gate in :45.50 over the Belmont training track, the best of a whopping 188 breezes and 1.51 seconds faster than the next-quickest move that morning. Following a maintenance five-eighths on May 2, he zipped four panels in: 47.80 (6/77) on May 9 and the money was very much on Thursday afternoon.
The $375,000 KEENELAND the September yearling, after bouncing wonderfully from an outside gate, found itself right in the heart of things. He took the sit just off the flank of the much more seasoned and pacesetting Light the Way (Justify–By the Light) and proceeded down the back and into the turn. When the Venezuelan cut the ribbons at the three-sixteenths, it was all over, as the colt soared clear with every stride. A clear 1:10.30 was the final time for the six furlongs on a track drenched with rain. The half-brother of race one winner Delightful Flame (Flameaway), Deputy Mischief (Into Mischief), faltered at the break and lost ground to rivals by more than 21 lengths to finish sixth.
“Ever since he started doing his fast work, this horse has shown an abundance of talent,” Morley remarked to his wife Maggie Wolfendale on the 'America's Day At The Races' program. “I was a little dubious about the six furlongs today because that's not what he's bred to do at all, but he's basically had a six-furlong gate breeze. Very often the first time out, they are very relaxed because they don't know what's going to happen. Around the barn, he's got a ton of class, this horse. He could be a good one.”
Bred by Speedway Stable from their $650,000 OBS April graduate Moon Dash, who was stakes-placed on the grass as a juvenile before retiring to the breeding shed in 2019, Donegal Momentum is a 17th 'TDN Rising Star' for Uncle Mo. A daughter of SW & MGSP In The Slips, Moon Dash is also the dam of a 2-year-old Maclean's Music filly by Coolmore-based champion Corniche (Quality Road), who last fall at Keeneland made $200,000 for Rigney Racing.
Among the 25 winners of the Uncle Mo x late Malibu Moon cross is Donegal Momentum, which also produces Grade II winner Celestial City.
In order to win the 2018 GI Secretariat S. with Carrick (Giant's Causeway), Donegal Racing and Morley teamed.