Mo Plex Passes Two-Turn Test in Ohio Derby

Never traveling beyond a mile before June 21, Mo Plex handled his first two-turn test with aplomb in the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown. In fact, even after surging to a two-length victory, Mo Plex appeared keen for more, proving difficult to pull up for jockey Joseph Ramos. An accomplished 2-year-old last year, Mo Plex showed owner R and H Stable and trainer Jeremiah Englehart early on he was a formidable competitor not just against state-breds, but also against open company. After demolishing his rivals in a New York-bred maiden special weight, he captured the Sanford Stakes (G3) and Funny Cide Stakes before finishing third in the Champagne Stakes (G1). The son of second-crop sire Complexity remained at one-turn distances in opening his sophomore campaign, proving to be a highly effective sprinter last time out with a score in the seven-furlong Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack April 19 that earned him a 101 Equibase Speed Figure. Breaking from the outer post in the field of eight 3-year-olds, Ramos asked Mo Plex for some speed and the colt responded, striding quickly away from the barrier and angling over sharply to the inside. Once clearing most of the rivals to his inside, the colt flanked the pacesetting Clever Again through early fractions of :23.42, :47.75, and 1:12.04, never allowing the 9-5 shot to stray too far out of reach. As they rounded the far turn, Mo Plex drew alongside Clever Again, and in one fell swoop, sailed past his tiring foe. Driving into the clear, Mo Plex kept the late-running Chunk of Gold at bay down the stretch, hitting the wire in a final time of 1:50.72. Mo Plex ($12.80), never off the board in eight trips to the post, collected the fifth win and fourth stakes tally of his career. The Ohio Derby pushed the bay's earnings past the $500,000 mark to $745,000. Race favorite Chunk of Gold, making his second start since a ninth-place effort in the Kentucky Derby (G1), was a game runner-up. McAfee, third throughout, ran evenly to complete the trifecta. Bred in New York by Everything's Cricket Racing, Mo Plex is the first foal out of the Uncle Mo mare Mo Joy. He is the first graded stakes winner of the year for Airdrie Stud stallion Complexity, who is standing the 2025 breeding season for $25,000. Englehart signed for Mo Plex for $45,000 at the 2024 Ocala Breeders' Sale Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training from the Hoppel consignment. Goldeneye Magic Pulls 31-1 Upset in Lady Jacqueline Three-year-old Goldeneye Magic nailed 2-5 favorite Peignoir at the wire to defeat older rivals in the $250,000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes. The only sophomore in the field of seven, Goldeneye Magic secured the first stakes victory of her career for owner/trainer Jason DaCosta. Ridden by Fernando Salazar Becerra, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Mucho Macho Man completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.44. She returned $65 for a $2 win ticket. Peignoir, stakes-placed at Oaklawn Park over the winter and an impressive Keeneland allowance victor three starts back, was second over Just Be Quiet in third.