Mo Town rallied wide under jockey John Velazquez to win Saturday's Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at 1 1-8 miles on turf, the colt's first start in a graded stakes on turf.

Mo Town ($6.20) finished a length in front of 9-1 Channel Maker, who closed well in the final furlong to finish a nose ahead of 7-1 Big Score. Sharp Samurai, the 7-5 favorite, was fourth, a nose behind Big Score. Sharp Samurai took the lead with about three furlongs remaining, but could not sustain the advantage in the final 50 yards.

Mo Town was timed in 1:46.36.

Bowies Hero finished fifth, followed by Ritzy A.P., Ann Arbor Eddie, Souper Tapit and Just Howard.

Mo Town races for the Coolmore team of Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Susan Magnier and Team D. Trained by Anthony Dutrow, Mo Town won the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct last December. Earlier this year, Mo Town was seventh in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct in April.

By Uncle Mo, Mo Town won his turf debut in an optional claimer at 1 1-16 miles on turf by 6 1-2 lengths at Belmont Park on Oct. 12 as a prep for the $300,000 Hollywood Derby.