Dutrow pleased with Mo Town's effort in Saturday allowance
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Though Mo Town finished fourth behind favored Neolithic in a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance that closed Saturday's Whitney Day program, trainer Tony Dutrow said he was pleased with the competitiveness the Grade 2 winner showed in his first start in nearly four months.
Unraced since a dull seventh-place effort in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial April 8 at Aqueduct, Mo Town found himself on the outside down the backside and into the stretch, rallying from mid-pack to hit the wire less than four lengths behind the winner.
Mo Town hadn't sprinted since he ran second going six furlongs in his debut last August at Saratoga. He broke his maiden going a mile at Belmont Park last fall and capped his juvenile campaign with a victory in the Grade 2 Remsen. He opened 2017 finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Risen Star February 25 at Fair Grounds.
"Mo Town seems good from the race," Dutrow said. "I'm going to take the positive side of looking at things that he did finish up some and he did compete. It was so unlike his last race in the Wood Memorial.
"He's not a sprinter type of horse," he added. "I'm not making excuses ... but he is a better two-turn horse and I thought with him finishing up a little bit I think that gives us hope to go forward with him."
Dutrow's Team D sold a controlling interest in Mo Town to Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier and Derrick Smith of Coolmore prior to the Remsen. Dutrow said he would talk to the principals before deciding on what's next.
"I don't know what the Coolmore folks may have on their minds. I'll talk to them today," Dutrow said. "If he's any good he'll move forward. The only way he doesn't move forward is if he isn't any good."
Source: NYRA Communications
Source: NYRA Communications
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