Mo Town, Practical Joke under consideration for Gotham

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – If Withers Stakes winner El Areeb skips the March 4 Gotham here, the race will be in need of a favorite. Mo Town or Practical Joke would fit the bill.

While the Gotham is on the radar for both Mo Town and Practical Joke, their connections are considering other races as well.

Trainer Tony Dutrow said that Mo Town, the winner of the Grade 2 Remsen last November, will be entered in the Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 25, but Dutrow said he is still considering the Gotham. Dutrow said that how the Risen Star field shapes up, what post Mo Town draws for that race, and the weather forecast for New York on Gotham Day would be factors in his decision on where to run.

Dutrow said Mo Town is coming around quicker than he anticipated, yet another reason he is considering moving up Mo Town’s 3-year-old debut by a week and running him in the Risen Star.

“I could run him this coming Saturday,” Dutrow said. “He’s pretty ready to go.”

John Velazquez will ride Mo Town regardless of what race he runs in, according to both Dutrow and Angel Cordero Jr., Velazquez’s agent.

Meanwhile, multiple Grade 1 winner and juvenile Eclipse Award finalist Practical Joke is being considered for both the Gotham and the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park on March 4, trainer Chad Brown said Monday. Practical Joke, the winner of the Hopeful and Champagne, worked a half-mile in 49 seconds Monday at Palm Meadows in Florida.

“He really worked outstanding this morning,” said Brown, who caught Practical Joke in 48.40 seconds and out five furlongs in 1:01.20. “I’m still considering both races, and I’m not leaning toward one or the other.”