Mo Town Storms Home to Take Hollywood Derby

Coolmore and Team D's Mo Town appears to have found his home on the grass.

After his eye-catching turf debut Oct. 12 at Belmont Park, the 2016 Remsen Stakes (G2) winner once again showed an impressive turn of foot to win the $300,000 Hollywood Derby (G1T) at Del Mar.

As favored Sharp Samurai battled with Big Score in the stretch, Mo Town loomed on the outside and powered past the pair in the final sixteenth to win by a length. Once the Uncle Mo  colt hit the front under jockey John Velazquez, all that was left up for grabs were the minor awards. Channel Maker closed up the rail to pick up second, a nose ahead of Big Score, who just edged Sharp Samurai for fourth.

The Anthony Dutrow trainee finished off the 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:46.36, a stakes record.

"My first trip to Del Mar, and the people out here are so nice, I can't wait to get back some day," Dutrow said. "It was a grade 1 race and our horse had a chance, and I just felt like we had to be here. The race itself? I don't know how this turf course plays, but I knew at the top of the stretch Mo Town had a lot of work to do and I'm glad he was up to it."

Mo Town settled into eighth early, six lengths behind clear early leader Ritzy A. P., who set fractions of :23.34 and :47.67 through a half-mile. The longshot frontrunner faded quickly soon after, however, and the sprint for home was on. Favored Sharp Samurai, who came into the Hollywood Derby on a four-race win streak, dueled with Souper Tapit as six furlongs went in 1:11.19.

Sharp Samurai assumed command midway through the final turn and opened up a one-length lead in the stretch, but the early move under jockey Gary Stevens took its toll. As Mo Town pulled away, Sharp Samurai was passed in the final strides and finished fourth.

"He's had a great year. He ran another good one," Stevens said of the three-time graded winner. "No excuses or complaints from me."

Mo Town moved into contention with a four-wide move late in the final turn, but had plenty left for the stretch run.

"I got to try something different with this horse today," said Velazquez, who also piloted Mo Town to his 6 1/2-length score at Belmont last time out. "I've been trying to get him to settle. He broke slow, so I didn't panic with him. I let him settle and run right along. Then when I asked him, he responded. He responded very well."

A length and a half behind Sharp Samurai came Bowies Hero, who was followed by Ritzy A. P., Ann Arbor Eddie, Souper Tapit, and Just Howard, to complete the order of finish.

Bred in Kentucky by John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock, out of the Bernardini  mare Grazie Mille, Mo Town now has a 4-1-1 record from nine starts and $509,600 in earnings. He was a $200,000 purchase by Team D from Glennwood Farm's consignment to the Keeneland September yearling sale.