Remsen showdown between Takaful and Mo Town

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Mo Town and Takaful, arguably the two most impressive 2-year-old maiden winners of the Belmont fall meet, head a field of 10 entered in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Remsen Stakes at 1 1/8 miles.

Mo Town, a son of Uncle Mo trained by Tony Dutrow, won a one-mile maiden race by seven lengths on Sept. 24. Since that race, a partial interest in the colt was purchased by the Coolmore connections of Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, in whose colors Mo Town will run Saturday.

Mo Town was entered in the Nashua Stakes here on Nov. 4 but had to scratch when he was found with a gluteal muscle strain. That has since been addressed, and the colt has impressed Dutrow in the morning.

“We don’t think we could be any happier,” said Dutrow, whose Team D Stable still retained a partial interest in the colt. “We’re confident our horse is ready to do what he’s able to do.”

Takaful won a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race by eight lengths on Oct. 29. His final time of 1:15.82 was 2.10 seconds faster than the final time of Lead Astray, who won the other division of that maiden event. Lead Astray is also part of the Remsen cast.

Jose Ortiz, who won on both Takaful and Lead Astray, sticks with Takaful, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, who won last year’s Remsen with Mohaymen.

Hemsworth, who won the Grade 2 Nashua by 9 1/2 lengths as a maiden, has already shipped to south Florida. His trainer, Tom Albertrani, will be represented by the maiden Newman, who was beaten a half-length by You’re to Blame, also in the Remsen.

Completing the field are Hookup, No Dozing, Tale of Silence, Win With Pride, and Tellmeafookystory.