Saratoga: Donegal Momentum bounces back, wins Bernard Baruch

Graded stakes-winner Donegal Momentum was briefly headed at the top of the stretch but battled back for a game victory in Friday’s listed $150,000 Bernard Baruch, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for older horses at Saratoga.

Trained by Tom Morley, the 4-year-old Uncle Mo colt not only battled back in the race, but also from a troubled trip in the Grade 3 Kelso last out on July 5 here, where he was forwardly placed through the half-mile before stumbling and nearly falling. Prior to the Kelso, Donegal Momentum was in career form after taking the local Poker (G3) in June for his first graded-stakes victory.

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"He came back with a cut on the back of his right-hind pastern last time, and the only way a horse can get a cut there, in my opinion, is if someone literally struck into the back of him,” Morley said. “He got a hamstring pull on the right side and it took us a little time to get that ironed out. We sent him down to Belmont, and my team there have done a wonderful job with him.”

With current meet-leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle for the first time in the afternoon, Donegal Momentum bobbled out of post 4, but recovered to take command while stalked by longshot Tabeguache and Northern Invader through an opening quarter-mile in 24.56 seconds on the firm turf. 

“I was able to make the lead,” Ortiz said. “Honestly, it was a good pace, a slow pace I guess for these kind of horses. We had the advantage there and then I just bide my time.”

Donegal Momentum showed the way in the first turn and down the backside, followed by Tabeguache, Northern Invader, General Jim and the Flavien Prat-piloted favorite Program Trading at the back through a half-mile in 49.03. 

Ortiz sat chilly in the second turn while Hall of Famer Joel Rosario located a seam up the rail aboard Northern Invader and following three-quarters in 1:13.81, Donegal Momentum had been headed. 

“It surprised me a little bit,” Ortiz said of his rival’s early move. “After that, he already got there, so I just leave him alone and try to stay with my horse. I trust the horse and he got the job done.”

Donegal Momentum, once straightened for home, fought back and re-claimed the lead just before the eighth pole as Program Trading angled out to launch his bid. The multiple Grade 1-winner Program Trading gained with every stride, passing a hard-trying Northern Invader, but Donegal Momentum kept his neck in front in a final time of 1:43.05. 

Northern Invader finished 3/4 length back in third, with General Jim completing the superfecta. Tabeguache rounded out the order of finish. Major Dude was scratched.

"When Irad was sat stationary and gave his customary flick down the neck, I knew he still had a gear or two in him,” Morley said. “He's better on firm ground so the rain this morning probably didn't aid us, but an opening half-mile in 49 (seconds), this horse is always going to be difficult to beat."

Morley said a potential start for Donegal Momentum is the Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) on Oct. 4 at Keeneland, which his 2021 Bernard Baruch Handicap (G2) winner Tell Your Daddy exited this race to finish second in. 

“We'll probably have a go at that,” Morley said. “We wanted to run in the Fourstardave here, obviously we needed more time after the last race. I've always maintained that this horse at a mile is a Grade 1-caliber horse, and I'd love to, all being well, have a go at that."

Donegal Momentum was third in the nine-furlong Hollywood Derby (G1) in November at Del Mar in his lone top-level start to date. 

Prat said the Chad Brown-trained Program Trading was game off a nearly 15-month layoff dating to a fifth in the Manhattan (G1) last June here.

“He ran a good race,” Prat said. “I got outrun out of the gate, couldn’t get myself any closer, then it was soft fractions. He made a good run, just too late.”

Donegal Momentum was a $375,000 purchase at the Keeneland September yearling sale and is out of the stakes-placed Malibu Moon mare Moon Dash. He banked $82,500 in victory while improving his record to 12: 6-2-1 and returning $8.50 for a $2 win bet.