Saturday Stakes Treble for Mo Town
It was a three stakes winner Saturday for Mo Town with Doncho (4g Mo Town x Sassy Redhead, by Henny Hughes winning the Da Hoss, As Catch Can (3f Mo Town x Just a Catch, by Justin Phillip) winning the Old Dominions Oaks, and How Bout That Curt (2c Mo Town x Double Bee Sting, by Stay Thirsty) in the Northern Lights Futurity.
Representing his sire’s second crop in the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs, Doncho was looking for his second stakes win after getting his first last season on the dirt. Racing 5 ½ furlongs on the turf in this start, Doncho made it clear he’s stakes quality on both surfaces by taking the lead early.
Comfortable in his spot while raced in hand, jockey Jaime Torres released him coming into the stretch and he pulled away. Near the line, that runner made another bid but Doncho was able to repel him and win by a neck.
Trained by Michelle Lovell for JAL Racing, Doncho has won five of his nine starts with one other top three finish for $341,551 in earnings.
Shipping to Colonial Downs from California for the Old Dominion Oaks, Grade III-placed As Catch Can was searching for her first stakes win in the Old Dominion Oaks after multiple seconds in her previous stakes starts.
Racing 1 1/8 miles on the turf, As Catch Can was happy to settle a few lengths off the pace under Torres before moving a little closer in the turn. As Catch Can didn’t do her best running until they were in the stretch, but she made a move as they crossed in the final furlong to come up the pacesetter’s inside. She had to prove her determination but was well set for it and won by three quarters of a length when all was said and done.
As Catch Can has hit the board in seven of 11 starts with three wins and three runner-up finishes in stakes for $320,395 in earnings. Trained by Jonathan Thomas for Augustin Stables, the Loren Nichols-bred was a $210,000 OBS April 2-Year-Old purchase last year.
Rounding out the stakes wins was juvenile How Bout That Curt in the Northern Lights Futurity at Canterbury.
Showing Mo Town can sire both turf and dirt horses, How Bout That Curt was going six furlongs on the dirt and quickly stalked the pace once the gate opened. Jockey Harry Hernandez was willing to be patient on his mount, waiting for a rail opening around the turn.
When that hole opened, How Bout That Curt shot through and used the stretch to pad his lead for a 5 ¼ length victory.
Trained by Tony Rengstof for owner-breeder Sampson Racing Stable, How Bout That Curt broke his maiden last out by 3 ½ lengths going a furlong shorter last out. He’s now two-for-three with his debut seeing him finish second.
Mo Town has seven stakes winners in 2025 – tied for second among all fourth crop sires behind only Justify.