SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Donegal Momentum, who stumbled badly yet did complete the course in the Grade 3 Kelso Stakes on July 3, will not run in the Grade 1 Fourstardave on Aug. 2, trainer Tom Morley said earlier this week.
Morley said that Donegal Momentum pulled a gluteal muscle on his right side as the result of the incident, of which he’s unclear what happened. Morley shipped Donegal Momentum back to Belmont Park to train as he believes the training track there “is a bit kinder on the horses.”
Morely expects Donegal Momentum to return to the work tab sometime next week, and if all goes well, he will be pointed to the $150,000 Bernard Baruch Stakes on Aug. 29 at Saratoga.
Prior to the incident in the Kelso, Donegal Momentum won the Grade 3 Poker Stakes at Saratoga in June.
Meanwhile, One Nine Hundred, an impressive allowance winner July 6 at Saratoga, worked a half-mile in 49.22 seconds on Tuesday over Belmont Park’s training track. Morley said that his target for One Nine Hundred is the Grade 2, $400,000 Gallant Bob on Sept. 20 at Parx Racing. How he gets One Nine Hundred there is not yet defined, though Morley said he would be entered for the main track only in the Grade 3, $175,000 Mahony Stakes scheduled for 5 1/2 furlongs on turf Aug. 10 at Saratoga.
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