The Big Torpedo was an impressive victor of Sunday’s Spectacular Bid Division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series. (Susie Raisher)
Impressive maiden winner Donegal Momentum returns Thursday
Belmont at the Big A Notes
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Thomas Albrecht, Vincent Fusaro, and James Klein’s New York-bred sophomore The Big Torpedo was an impressive victor of Sunday’s Spectacular Bid Division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for eligible state-sired sophomores, at Belmont at the Big A.
Trained by Tom Morley, the Big Brown chestnut traveled a stalking trip in behind the early pacesetters under regular pilot Eric Cancel, before firing along the rail in the stretch to a 3 1/2-length victory in a final time of 1:08.83.
In victory, The Big Torpedo notched his first stakes score, after previously finishing a close second in the one-mile turf Woodhaven against open-company here on April 27. He will be pointed towards a stretch back out to one-mile on turf in the $150,000 NYSSS Cab Calloway on July 18 at Saratoga Race Course.
“These Stallion Series races for straight 3-year-olds do not come around very often. At the end of the day, he was second in a stake against open-company in the Woodhaven,” said Morley. “Off that effort, I think he would be a very short-priced favorite in the Cab Calloway.”
The Spectacular Bid performance earned a career-best 88 Beyer Speed Figure. Aside from a distant finish in the state-bred Gander here going a one-turn mile on the main track in February, The Big Torpedo has received increasing Beyers in each start. His other stakes attempt came as a maiden in December in the seven-furlong dirt NYSSS Great White Way, where he crossed the wire fourth but was elevated to third.
Morley confirmed The Big Torpedo exited his recent effort in good order.
“He came out of it great. It was a hot day, but the cut back to six furlongs probably meant that it was just a bit easier on him than some of the two-turn races he has been running in,” said Morley. “He is a very straight-forward horse with a great appetite, so he seems to be in very good shape.”
Donegal Racing’s promising debut-winner Donegal Momentum has been entered for a second career start in Race 2 on Thursday, a one-mile allowance at Belmont at the Big A. There, the sophomore Uncle Mo colt will face elders in a compact six-horse field, set to break from post 1 in rein to Hall of Famer Javier Castellano.
Donegal Momentum won his lone start by 8 3/4 lengths in a local six-furlong maiden special weight on May 16, awarded an impressive 92 Beyer Speed Figure over the muddy and sealed footing in a final time of 1:10.30.
“He had to face elders on debut, at this point of the year, we don’t have the option of running against straight 3-year-olds,” said Morley. “There are some nice allowance types in there, so he is going to have to take a step forward, but hopefully he is ready to do that.”
Morley said Donegal Momentum’s pedigree indicates he may appreciate added distance.
“He’s by Uncle Mo, out of a Malibu Moon mare, he’s meant to go farther,” said Morley. “He is another colt with a lovely appetite and demeanor around the barn. We are excited to see him make a second start.”
Donegal Momentum has completed three works over the Belmont Park dirt training track since his debut graduation, including most recently a five-eighths breeze on June 20 in 1:01.36.
“Certainly, his works indicate that a mile should be no problem to him at all,” said Morley, regarding the stretch-out to a one-turn mile.
Out of the stakes-placed Malibu Moon mare Moon Dash, Donegal Momentum was a $375,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Donegal Racing, who has been a part of many Grade 1-winning campaigns including Mo Donegal, Keen Ice, and Finnegans Wake.
