Mo Donegal nails Early Voting in Wood Memorial; Nostalgic steps up in Gazelle

Apr 09, 2022 James Scully/TwinSpires.com

Mo Donegal put
his name back into serious Kentucky Derby discussion, rallying powerfully to overhaul
Early Voting by a neck in the $1 million Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct. The
Todd Pletcher-trained colt closed from last to first with Joel Rosario,
completing 1 1/8 miles in a sharp 1:47.96, and he’ll bring a strong finishing kick to Kentucky Derby on May 7.

Owned by Donegal Racing, Mo Donegal rebounded from a
non-threatening third in his seasonal opener, the Feb. 5 Holy Bull (G3) at
Gulfstream Park, and he stamped his Kentucky Derby ticket in the major
qualifier.

Aqueduct also offered the $250,000 Gazelle (G2), which
offered 170 points (100-40-20-10 scale) toward a Kentucky Oaks berth and
featured a minor upset from Nostalgic.

Off as the 2-1 second choice in the Wood, Mo Donegal was
unhurried at the back of the eight-horse field as Early Voting showed the way
on a short lead through fractions of :23.86, :47.75, and 1:11.59. The
pacesetter accelerated clear in upper stretch, but Mo Donegal was closing fast
into contention.

Mo Donegal came flying to catch Early Voting, who had
recorded convincing wins in the Feb. 5 Withers (G3) and a maiden special weight
in his first two starts. The runner-up ran huge in defeat, winding up 3 1/2 lengths clear of Skippylongstocking
in third, and A. P.’s Secret, Barese, 9-5 favorite Morello, Long Term, and Golden
Code came next under the wire.

Bred in Kentucky by Ashview Farm and Colts Necks Stables, Mo
Donegal was purchased for $250,000 as a yearling. He concluded last year with a victory in the Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct, scoring by a nose over Zandon, who convincingly won Saturday’s Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland, and Mo Donegal’s career record now
reads 5-3-0-2.

In the 1 1/8-mile Gazelle, Nostalgic rallied boldly along the
inside to overhaul even-money favorite Venti Valentine, earning her first stakes
win with a 1 1/4-length decision. Jose Ortiz was up on the Godolphin homebred
daughter of Medaglia d’Oro for Bill Mott, and Nostalgic stopped the teletimer
in 1:50.41.

She stalked in fourth before launching her bid into the
stretch. Last seen romping in a March 3 allowance at Gulfstream, Nostalgic finished
fourth when making her stakes debut in the Demoiselle (G2) last fall and opened
her sophomore season with an unplaced showing in a turf stakes. The bay miss
has now won 3-of-5 starts.

Venti Valentine, a seven-length winner of the March 5 Busher
S. at a one-turn mile, weakened at the longer distance after controlling the
pace on a clear lead. Shotgun Hottie wound up another two lengths back in
third, and Classy Edition, Divine Huntress, Morning Matcha, and Caragate
completed the order.

Nostalgic is out of the stakes-placed Tapit mare Been Here
Before.