Mo Town may have a future on turf

ELMONT N.Y. – Mo Town, one of the major disappointments of the 3-year-old division on dirt this year, may have found a new home on the turf.

In his first start on turf, Mo Town rolled to a 6 1/2-length allowance win Thursday at Belmont Park. It was his first victory since he won the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct last November. Off the Remsen, Mo Town was among the early favorites for the Kentucky Derby. But disappointing efforts in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds and the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct took him off the Derby trail.

Two losses in allowance company prompted trainer and part-owner Tony Dutrow to try the turf with the son of Uncle Mo.

“I just did this to shake him up, just to see what happens, which direction we go in after this race,” Dutrow said.

Mo Town worked out a three-wide stalking trip under John Velazquez and then ran away from his opponents in the stretch. Mo Town ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.86 and earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

“Johnny said he really liked the turf, but Johnny said more than anything the difference today was the horse relaxed,” Dutrow said.

Dutrow said he would like to run Mo Town back in the $150,000 Gio Ponti Stakes for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on turf Nov. 25 at Aqueduct.