In his first stakes try, Mo Town soared past favored Takaful in early stretch and was not seriously threatened late to post a 2 1/2-length victory in the $300,000, Grade 2 Remsen Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct.
In his first stakes try, Mo Town soared past favored Takaful in early stretch and was not seriously threatened late to post a 2 1/2-length victory in the $300,000, Grade 2 Remsen Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct.
Campaigned by Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Team D, Mo Town completed the 1 1/8-mile race for 2-year-olds in 1:51.58 under jockey John Velazquez. Mo Town is trained by Anthony Dutrow.
Mo Town entered Saturday’s test off a seven-length victory in a one-mile maiden race on Sept. 24 at Belmont Park. That easy victory on a muddy track followed a career debut in which the son of leading second-crop sire Uncle Mo finished second in a six-furlong maiden race on Aug. 27 at Saratoga Race Course.
Stretching out to two turns for the first time on Saturday proved to Mo Town’s liking. After Shadwell Stable’s Takaful seized the early advantage under Jose Ortiz and opened a three-length lead through a quarter-mile in : 23.47, Mo Town, who had raced three wide on the first turn, and Velazquez moved closer to Takaful through a half-mile in :48.84.
Mo Town stayed close through the far turn and after six furlongs in 1:14.02, he took command and quickly opened a clear advantage.
No Dozing, who had attempted a four-wide rally on the far turn, sustained that move to the finish line for second place, but would not threaten the winner.
“He was very good. He got carried wide into the first turn and after that I had to do the dirty job with the horse in front,” Velazquez said. “After that, he did everything well. Hopefully, he can come back better as a 3-year-old.”
Mo Town paid $10.40, $5.50, and $2.80 across the board while No Dozing returned $5.30 to place and $2.90 to show. Takaful held on for third, paying $2.20 to show. Win With Pride finished fourth.
The Remsen is a Kentucky Derby Championship Series “prep season” race awarding 10 points to the winner, four to second, two to third, and one to fourth. The points are used to determine the Derby field should more than 20 horses be entered.
Bred in Kentucky by John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock, Mo Town is the first starter out of the winning Bernardini mare Grazie Mille. Mo Town’s second dam is Grade 3 winner Molto Vita, by Carson City.
Mo Town was purchased for $200,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale, with Team D signing the ticket.