Ohio Derby Winner Mo Plex Pointed to Pennsylvania Derby

R and H Stable's dual graded stakes-winning New York-bred Mo Plex continues to train forwardly for his upcoming outing in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1), a 1 1/8-mile dirt route Sept. 20 at Parx Racing. A dual grade 3 winner who took the Sanford Stakes (G3) at 2 and the Ohio Derby (G3) this year at 3, Mo Plex was a pacesetting fourth last out at Saratoga Race Course in the July 26 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), 10 1/4 lengths behind divisional leader Sovereignty, who is favored in the Aug. 23 Travers Stakes (G1). The son of Complexity is 5-1-2 in nine starts with earnings of $775,000. Englehart said he preferred to wait for the Pennsylvania Derby rather than run in the Aug. 21 Albany Stakes for New York-breds or Saturday's Travers. "I have to give him another shot (at the top flight), especially when I don't think he ran his 'A' race in the Jim Dandy," Englehart said. Englehart said he is buoyed at the prospect of Mo Plex being reunited with jockey Joseph Ramos in the race at Parx and the fact that the last two Pennsylvania Derby winners—Seize the Grey (2024) and Saudi Crown (2023)—made their previous starts in the Jim Dandy, finishing fourth and second, respectively. Mo Plex has worked back twice over the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga, including a half-mile in :48.48 Aug. 17. Other possible starters for the Pennsylvania Derby include Baeza, Goal Oriented, Chunk of Gold, and Tip Top Thomas.